President William Ruto reshuffled board chairpersons of key state corporations before leaving for a three-day visit to Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
In a Gazette notice dated Thursday, February 17, Ruto changed the leadership of Nzoia Sugar Company Limited, Tourism Fund Board and Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI).
The Head of State conducted the shake-up to establish all-rounded tentacles across his Kenya Kwanza administration.
In the latest appointments, Ruto revoked the appointments of former President Uhuru Kenyatta's appointees.
Ruto appointed Alfred Khang’ati as the Chairperson of the Board of Directors of Nzoia Sugar Company Limited for three years.
"In exercise of the powers conferred by section 6 (1) (a) of the State Corporations Act, I, William Samoei Ruto, President and Commander-in-Chief of the Kenya Defence Forces, appoint Alfred Khang’ati to be the Chairperson of the Board of Directors of Nzoia Sugar Company Limited, for a period of three (3) years, with effect from February 17, 2023," Ruto noted.
Khang'ati served as a Member of Parliament in the National Assembly for Kanduyi Constituency between 2007 to 2012.
Kang'ati was a member of Raila Odinga's Orange Democratic Movement, but he decamped to Ruto's side during the August 2022 General Election.
As the chairperson of Nzoia Sugar Company Limited (NSC), Kang'ati will oversee the welfare of over 45,000 farmers, mainly from the Western part of the country.
Nzoia Sugar Company Limited (NSC) is facing unprecedented financial challenges that have caused delays in compensations and payments.
In the same Gazette notice, Ruto revoked the appointment of Dr Alphonse Kioko as the board chairman of the Tourism Fund Board and replaced him with Samson Kipkoech.
Former President Uhuru Kenyatta appointed Dr Kioko as the Tourism Fund Board chairman on May 6, 2019.
Established under Section 4(1) of The Tourism Act Cap 383, the Tourism Fund Board is responsible for mobilising resources for sustainable development and promotion of tourism.
The Tourism Fund Board collects tourism levies from hotels and other service providers. The money is then disbursed to various tourism projects, programs, and initiatives across the country, especially within the Ministry of Tourism.
Ruto also revoked another Uhuru's appointee, Dr Mbinda Daniel Musyoka, who was serving as Chairperson of the Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI).
Ruto immediately replaced Musyoka with Dr Abdillahi Ibrahim, who will serve for three years, starting Thursday, February 17, 2023.
KEMRI is a state corporation established under Section 4(1)of The Science And Technology (Amendment) Act Cap 250. It is charged with the responsibility of researching human health issues.
