Investment banker John Ngumi has resigned as Kenya Airways' Independent non-executive director, the airline announced on Friday.
Kenya Airways chairman Michael Joseph later announced the nomination of James David Kabereri as an interim independent non-executive director in Mr Ngumi's place until an annual general meeting.
This is Ngumi's second high-profile resignation; in January, he resigned as Safaricom's board chairman and director after only five months in office.
Mr Ngumi's departure comes just three weeks after rushing to court to prevent the anti-corruption agencies Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) and Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) from pursuing him.
Did you read this?
"My departure is motivated by my belief that now that the difficult work of stabilizing KQ is bearing fruit, it is the right time for others to come in and build on the transformational platform that the Board and Management of KQ has created," Mr Ngumi is cited as telling KQ's board.
Mr Ngumi's departure from the national carrier adds to the mystery surrounding the investment banker, who has been on the radar of several anti-corruption agencies, his most recent public appearance being before the National Assembly's Finance and National Planning and Communication, Innovation, and Information committees, which are jointly investigating the acquisition of Telkom Kenya for Ksh.6.2 billion.
Nonetheless, Mr Ngumi has pushed back the State by racing to court and being given orders barring his detention and prosecution for what he described in court filings as the State's determination to seek ex-President Uhuru Kenyatta's allies.
In a judgement obtained by Citizen Digital, High Court judge Diana Kavedza barred Bishop David Oginde-led EACC and DPP Noordin Haji from carrying out the arrest or prosecution because it would jeopardize his great banking career.
While the judge ordered him to sign an anticipatory bond of Ksh.500,000 and to appear in person at the EACC for questioning, it could not be determined if he followed the directive.
The Finance and National Planning and Communication, Innovation, and Information committees of the National Assembly are probing the acquisition of Telkom Kenya, in which Mr Ngumi is suspected of offering purported bangled advice to the Treasury.
Later, he would testify before the committees about his involvement in counselling the government on the acquisition. Mr Ngumi astonished the parliamentarians during his presence when he revealed he was paid millions for his intelligence.
In the ongoing investigation, the government paid Ksh.6.2 billion to Helios Investors LLP in August last year through Jamhuri Holdings Ltd (JHL), its Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV), without the authorization of the National Assembly.
JHL paid Mr Ngumi Ksh.362.1 million ($3.07 million) for his advising services in the transaction.
