Former Lang'ata MP Nixon Korir's steady rise in politics and public service received a shot in the arm following his nomination as Principal Secretary to the powerful Ministry of Lands.
In a dispatch from State House dated Wednesday, November 2, President William Ruto picked Korir as the PS in the State Department for Lands and Physical Planning.
The nomination came as no surprise but left many Kenyans envious of him, wishing that they had the same smooth ride to the top job.
Unknown to many, Korir is among the little-known members of President Ruto's inner circle whose loyalty spanning 10 years was bound to be rewarded. Kenyans.co.ke takes a look at his rise from student leader to PS.
According to the National Assembly website, he served as the Personal Assistant to the Eldoret North Member of Parliament (MP) William Ruto between 2010 and 2011.
Ruto poached the former MP from the University of Nairobi (UoN) where he had served in various leadership positions including Secretary-General of the Student Organization of Nairobi University (SONU).
A former president of the UoN School of Law and congressman, the then Minister for Higher Education appointed Korir to lead youth in campaigning against the proposed new Constitution ahead of the 2010 referendum.
Despite losing to the pro-constitution camp, he and the team delivered 2,795,059 votes, which was used as a bargain chip in the 2013 polls.
Meanwhile, he was promoted to PA and served for a year. In 2011, Korir partnered with other youths to form the United Republican Party (URP) in which he was the executive director.
In 2013, as URP flagbearer, Ruto shelved his bid and joined forces with TNA's Uhuru Kenyatta as running mate. They emerged victorious and formed the new government.
During the election, Korir made his first stab at elective politics lost to ODM's Joash Olum by 7,654 votes in the Lang'ata parliamentary race.
The then DP cushioned his fall and appointed him the Secretary, Youth Affairs in the Office of the Deputy President in 2014. He held the position until February 2017 when he quit to run for MP.
Amid sibling rivalry in CORD, Korir was elected Lang'ata MP under a Jubilee ticket, ending the ODM dominance in the constituency.
The PS nominee run for a second term but was floored by Phelix Odiwuor alias Jalango. He took many by surprise by prematurely conceding defeat after his competitor took an early lead of 2,000 votes.
"My competitor Jalango has a lead and I want to congratulate him as he prepares to take the mantle and move Langata forward. Siasa si chuki. God bless Langata," he remarked.
Korir maintained a low profile and was thrown back into the limelight after the Public Service Commission (PSC) shortlisted him for the advertised PS jobs.
If approved by the National Assembly Vetting Committee, he will become among the youngest and most powerful PSs in Ruto's government.
