Former National Youth Service (NYS) director general, Matilda Sakwa, was on Thursday, April 20, appointed as the CEO of the Pyrethrum Processing Company of Kenya days after handing over.
President William Ruto appointed her, in a communique signed by the Head of Public Service, Felix Koskei, in line with Ruto's transformative agenda in the agricultural sector.
The Head of Public Service also underlined that the current administration was keen on ensuring a re-engineering of the pyrethrum value chain to benefit farmers.
Koskei stated that her appointment would take effect immediately, with Sakwa expected to start her duties at the company located in Nakuru County on April 21.
"The Administration's Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda posits the agricultural value chain as a key driver for employment and wealth creation.
"To support in steering this transformative programme, it is notified that Ms Matilda Sakwa has been redeployed to the Ministry of Agriculture & Livestock Development and appointed as the Chief Executive Officer of the Pyrethrum Processing Company of Kenya Ltd," read the notice in part.
However, Koskei did not indicate the duration the former NYS boss will serve at the company.
Notably, her appointment came a day after she handed over at the NYS to her successor James Tembur - who is holding the DG position in an acting capacity.
The changes at NYS saw a section of Ruto's allies, and Azimio MPs demand Sakwa's reinstatement, who they alleged was targeted unfairly.
Led by Saboti MP Caleb Amisi, the legislators asserted that she ought to have carried on with her duties at NYS owing to the transformation witnessed in the force in recent years.
“This to us has a gender discrimination connotation. Since her appointment, the service has enjoyed tremendous transformation,” he stated.
Sakwa was confirmed as the NYS boss by former President Uhuru Kenyatta on September 17, 2019.
