President William Ruto has effected changes to the organization of his Government to accelerate the implementation of his Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA).
In a statement by Chief of Staff and Head of Public Service Felix Koskei on Thursday, the Head of State made changes to Principal Secretaries and foreign missions to harness the opportunities within emerging sectors of the economy as well as to address challenges affecting Kenya’s social fabric.
“His Excellency the President has transmitted the nominations for appointment to the ranks of Principal Secretaries and applicable Foreign Service postings to the National Assembly for consideration and approval in fulfillment of the legal requirements set out under our nation’s apex law,” said Chief of Staff Felix Koskei.
In the changes, President Ruto promoted Amos Gathecha from Principal Secretary Public Service to Deputy Head of the Public Service Executive Office of the President.
Prof. Edward Kisiang’ani has been appointed as senior advisor and member of the President’s Council of Economic Advisors. He previously served as Principal Secretary in the State Department of Broadcasting and Telecommunications.
Nominations
The President also reshuffled Principal Secretaries and nominated Foreign Service which includes Ambassadors, Consuls-Generals and Deputy Heads of Missions.
Notable changes in include; Dr. Jane Imbunya for appointment as PS State Department for Public Service and Human Capital Development, Ministry of Pubic Service, Human Capital Development and Special Programmes, Regina Akoth Ombam for appointment as PS State Department for Trade, Ministry of Investments, Trade and Industry, Cyrell Wagunda Odede for appointment as PS State Department for Public Investments and Assets Management, The National Treasury and Economic Planning.
Others are; Dr Caroline Wanjiru Karugu (former Nyeri Deputy Governor) for appointment as PS State Department For East African Affairs (EAC), Ministry of EAC Affairs and the ASALs and Regional Development and Dr. Oluga Fredrick Ouma for appointment as PS State Department For Medical Services, Ministry of Health.
The reshuffle also sees several officials reassigned to different departments.
Notably, Professor Julius Bitok swaps places with Dr. Belio Kipsang and moves from the State Department for Immigration to the State Department for Basic Education which has now been taken over by Belio.
Additionally, several other senior officials have been reassigned, with Teresiah Mbaika taking over the State Department for Aviation and Aerospace Development, Ishmael Madey moving to the State Department for Special Programs, and Harry Kimtai being shifted from Medical Services to the State Department for Mining, while Elijah Mwangi takes over the State Department for Sports, previously held by Peter Tum.
President Ruto has also created a new State Department within the Ministry of Education. Professor Abdulrazak Shaukat will head the new division, responsible for Science, Research, and Innovation, a sector that has been separated from Higher Education, currently overseen by Beatrice Inyangala.
Former Health Cabinet Secretary Susan Nakhumicha has landed a new role to serve as Permanent Representative of the Permanent Mission of Kenya to the United Nations Habitat in Nairobi. Similarly, President Ruto nominated Peter Tum as Kenyan Ambassador to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) while Alfred K’Ombundo was nominated as Deputy Head of Mission in Belgium.
This major restructuring, President Ruto emphasizes, will allow the government to harness the full potential of emerging economic sectors and enhance service delivery across the nation.
Additional Reporting by Ben Chumba
