Mercy Wambua has officially left her position as Chief Executive Officer and Commission Secretary at Kenya’s Commission on Administrative Justice, popularly known as the Office of the Ombudsman. The Commission confirmed her departure in a statement issued on Friday.
The announcement revealed that Wambua handed in her resignation on January 27, 2026. This was formally reviewed and approved at the Commission’s 80th meeting, following legal procedures and the Commission’s human resource guidelines. No specific reasons were provided for her resignation.
"The Commission on Administrative Justice (Office of the Ombudsman) wishes to inform the public that its Commission Secretary and Chief Executive Officer, Mercy Wambua, tendered her resignation on January 27, 2026," said Charles Dulo, the Commission's chairperson.
With Wambua stepping down, the Commission has begun the process of finding a new CEO and Commission Secretary, following the Constitution, the Commission on Administrative Justice Act, and public service regulations.
The move is aimed at keeping the leadership stable while ensuring the Commission continues to deliver on its mandate.
"The Commission remains committed to serving the public with integrity, transparency, and accountability, and will keep the public informed as the process of appointing a new Commission Secretary/Chief Executive Officer progresses," added Dulo.
Her resignation comes months after she was suspended in late 2025 due to allegations of gross misconduct, poor performance, and potential financial mismanagement.
During that period, two other senior officials were also placed on temporary interdiction while the Commission carried out investigations.
In a letter issued by Dulo, the suspension was discussed and approved during the Commission’s 73rd meeting on October 15, 2025. The Director of Corporate Services has since been tasked with serving as Acting Commission Secretary, and all staff were instructed to fully support the interim leadership.
Wambua had led the Commission since March 4, 2022. Before joining the Ombudsman’s office, she was CEO of the Law Society of Kenya for six years, and also served as Secretary to the Advocates Disciplinary Tribunal and the Advocates Benevolent Association.
