President William Ruto has appointed Chief of Defence Forces Charles Muriu Kahariri to be the chairperson of the presidential taskforce of the Kenya Home of Human Origins Museum and Science Park in the Lake Turkana Basin.
In a Gazette Notice, the president also appointed Mary Gikungu, the Director General at the National Museums of Kenya as a member of the task force.
She will join the Principal Secretaries from Treasury, Defence, Wildlife, Tourism, Culture, Shipping, and Maritime Affairs who also serve as members.
CDF Kahariri takes the role from his predecessor, the late Francis Ogolla whose appointment to the task force was subsequently revoked.
According to the notice, Kahariri's appointment will begin forthwith.
"It is notified for the general information of the public that His Excellency the President has appointed Gen. Charles Muriu Kahariri – Chairperson and Director General, National Museums of Kenya to be a member of the Steering Committee of the Taskforce on the Development of Kenya Home of Human Origins Museum and Science Park in the Lake Turkana Basin," the notice read in part.
In the notice, Ruto made four other appointments to effect in the delivery of services in his administration.
Jackton Ojwang was re-appointed as the chairperson of the board of Directors of the Energy and Petroleum Authority (EPRA) for four years.
Professor Mohamed Said was appointed to be the non-executive chairperson of the board of the Kenya National Commission for UNESCO for three years.
Further, former Nairobi Speaker Benson Mutura was appointed to chair the Nairobi Metropolitan Area Transport Authority Board (NAMATA) for three years while Dr. Ningala Kalachu was also tasked with chairing the Council of Veterinary Medicines Directorate for three years.
In his new role, CDF Kahariri and his team will be required to conduct research, design and operationalise the project.
This will involve studying and identifying various infrastructural developments that should be put in place to exploit the tourism potential of the Lake Turkana Basin.
The task force was designed to explore a new dimension to Kenya's tourism sector which has been dominated by game and beach tourism.
This would be by attracting tourists to explore and connect with the origins of mankind.
Kahariri was promoted to the rank of General on the same day he took over as the new CDF.
Initially, he served as Lieutenant General and Vice Chief of Defence Forces.
