Jaoko Oburu Odinga, son of Siaya Senator Oburu Odinga, was on Tuesday, April 22, appointed by President William Ruto to the position of Special Advisor, Economic Empowerment, and Sustainable Livelihoods in the Executive Office of the President.
Jaoko, the nephew of former Prime Minister Raila Odinga, revealed the new development through a statement on his X account, where he expressed his gratitude to Ruto and Raila for his new role.
"I wish to take this opportunity to give special thanks to H.E. President William Samoei Ruto for granting me an opportunity to serve Kenyans by appointing me to serve in the capacity of Special Advisor, Economic Empowerment, and Sustainable Livelihoods. Thank you, Your Excellency," he announced.
"Thanks also, go to the Right Honourable Prime Minister, Hon. Raila Odinga, for showing his faith in me and for creating a conducive environment for Kenyans from all walks of life to work together for our beloved country, Kenya, in nation building. Thank you, Sir. God bless Kenya," Jaoko added.
In his new role, Jaoko is expected to play a high-level strategic and advisory role focused on enhancing national economic inclusion and poverty reduction.
Core functions of his mandate are policy advisory and strategic planning where he will advise the President and senior government officials on economic empowerment strategies, especially for marginalized, vulnerable, or underserved populations. He will also contribute to the design and review of national policies and programs aimed at job creation, entrepreneurship, and sustainable livelihoods.
Jaoko will also be tasked with project oversight and coordination where he is expected to oversee or coordinate flagship initiatives focused on youth and women empowerment, access to finance (e.g., microloans, government funds), informal sector development, and green jobs and community-based enterprises. Further, he will work with ministries (e.g., Treasury, Trade, Labour), county governments, development partners, and civil society organizations to implement economic empowerment projects effectively.
Further, the role involves resource mobilization and partnerships with Jaoko set to be tasked with mobilizing domestic and international resources for economic empowerment programs. He will also be responsible for forging partnerships with the private sector, donors, and NGOs to scale up sustainable livelihoods initiatives.
The incoming special advisor will also be expected to monitor progress and assess the impact of government programs on economic inclusion, ensure data-driven decision-making, and provide regular updates to the President on key outcomes and challenges. He will also be responsible for identifying gaps and recommending solutions to enhance effectiveness.
Jaoko’s job also encompasses advocacy for inclusive economic growth and public engagement where he will represent Ruto’s office in national forums, international conferences, and high-level stakeholder engagements. Practical applications of Jaoko’s new role include Hustler Fund implementation and youth programs such as the National Youth Opportunities Towards Advancement (NYOTA).
Before his appointment, Jaoko was the chairperson of the Global Chair of Friends of Baba Africa (FOBA), a lobby group drumming up support towards Raila’s failed quest to become the African Union Commission (AUC) chairperson.
In the realm of public service, Jaoko served as the Director of Roads and Public Works in Siaya County during Governor Cornel Rasanga's administration. In 2023, he was shortlisted for the position of Partnerships and Resource Mobilization Coordinator by the Siaya County Public Service Board.
