Davis Chirchir, who served as President Uhuru Kenyatta’s chief agent in 2013 and 2017 presidential elections, has been appointed as the Chief of Staff at Deputy President William Ruto’s office.
Chirchir, who also served as a Cabinet Secretary for Energy and Petroleum in Uhuru’s first Cabinet met Ruto’s staff on Tuesday, March 1, nearly a week after his appointment.
According to notices at DP Ruto’s office, Chirchir was appointed on February 24.
His term in office commenced on March 1, with insiders stating that he may take up a new and more powerful role if the DP assumes power after the August polls.
The former CS is well versant with election strategies and information technology, having worked at the Kenya Posta & Telecommunications Corporation and the Interim Independent Electoral Commission (IIEC) currently known as the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC).
At the IIEC, Chirchir served as the Head of the ICT.
Chirchir, in 2017, was part of Uhuru’s team that was accused of election malpractice, allegations that were fronted by former Prime Minister Raila Odinga and his allies.
Prior to his appointment as Uhuru’a agent, the former CS was a key part of Uhuru's Cabinet before his suspension from office in 2015.
Chirchir was accused of graft and influencing tender processes. The Ethics and Anti Corruption Commission (EACC) launched investigations into alleged kickbacks of Ksh90 million given to a private firm linked with Kenya Power.
He was further accused of tampering with tender processes in contracts worth Ksh56 billion. EACC asked the Office of the Director of Public Prosecution (ODPP) to drop all charges over insufficient evidence.
Chirchir succeeds the late Ken Osinde who passed away on December 10, 2021.
Osinde passed on after a short illness.
"Ambassador Ken Nyauncho Osinde was a good leader with robust management and problem-solving skills and my office has lost one of its key officers. As our Chief of Staff, he was a diligent, hardworking, broad thinker and a master of human resources," the DP stated.
"We will miss his team spirit and wise counsel. My heartfelt thoughts and prayers to the family, colleagues and friends. Rest In Peace Ken, my friend," Ruto eulogised.
