ICT Cabinet Secretary Eliud Owalo has appointed former Kisii Governor James Ongwae as chairperson of the Universal Service Advisory Council.
According to a Gazette Notice published on Wednesday, Ongwae was appointed to lead the eight-member committee.
"In exercise of the powers conferred by Section 102K of the Kenya Information and Communications Act, 1998, the Cabinet Secretary for Information, Communication and the Digital Economy appoints James Ongwae as chairperson of the Universal Service Advisory Council for a period of three years," read part of the notice.
According to the Public Service Commission (PSC), the role of the Council is to advise the Communications Authority of Kenya and provide strategic policy guidance for the administration and implementation of the Universal Service Fund.
The council will also perform any other functions as the Board of Directors may, from time to time, assign.
The members include Patrick Muriithi, Amos Omolo, Lily Cherono, Francis Gitau, Joy Frida Mutuma and Ferdinand Nyongesa.
Others include Benjamin Kiptanui and Elizabeth Limagur. The members will serve for a term of three years, with the order taking effect on November 15, 2023.
Ongwae, who served as the Kisii governor for two terms, was a staunch member of the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) party before switching allegiance to the Kenya Kwanza regime.
In September 2022, he led a delegation of Gusii leaders to Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua's official residence in Karen, where they sought to join the Kenya Kwanza government.
A month later, the former governor officially quit the ODM party, stating that the decision was for the benefit of the Kisii community.
Further, he claimed the ODM party had neglected his interests and focused on allocating positions based on political patronage.
In early this year, Ongwae was among eight candidates shortlisted as a member of the Parliamentary Service Commission (PSC). He, however, failed to secure the position.
