President William Ruto has appointed Engineer Lung’anzi Chai Mangale as the new Bandari Maritime Academy Board non-executive Chairperson.
According to a Gazette Notice dated September 12, 2025, Mangale will serve a three-year term beginning immediately. The appointment was made under the Bandari Maritime Academy Order of 2018, which grants the President powers to make such designations.
The Bandari Maritime Academy, based in Mombasa, plays a key role in training and capacity building for Kenya’s maritime and blue economy sector. The new leadership is expected to strengthen governance and drive the institution’s strategic growth in line with national priorities.
With Mangale at the helm of the board, stakeholders will be keen to see how the governance and strategic direction of BMA evolve, especially in delivering on Kenya’s blue economy goals.
However, the appointment rubbed a section of Kwale residents the wrong way. In strong disapproval, the residents insisted that Engineer Lung’anzi who unsuccessfully battled the current Kwale County Governor Fatuma Achani and another opponent, former Principal Secretary and a scholar Professor Hamadi Boga, should give the political battle a second shot.
The dissatisfied residents mostly from Kinango Sub County, Eng. Mangale’s home tuff, said Eng. Lung’anzi and Professor Boga were a perfect pair to tumble Achani in the 2027 Kwale Gubernatorial seat.
According to the residents, by accepting the appointment, Engineer Lung’anzi is simply creating a “through pass” to Achani in the 2027 Kwale County Gubernatorial battle.
The first Kwale female Governor has been wooing voters with her slogan ‘Tolwa’ which is a Mijikenda phrase that translates to (through pass).
The incumbent has since 2022 enjoyed the backing of the government and specifically the former Kwale Governor who is the current sports Cabinet Secretary, Salim Mvurya in her political journey.
The recent political development in Kwale County have signaled President Ruto’s hand in reshaping Kwale county politics, objectively to safeguard Achani’s second term as the Kwale County Chief.
