President Ruto appoints more of his aides while he fires off Uhuru’s Talismen

President William Ruto made a significant shake-up in the leadership of state corporations in a bid to reorganise their ranks and files. Approximately 15 individuals were stripped of their titles.

In the latest Gazette Notice dated Friday, February 24, 2023, the Head of State carried a purge that also saw the revocation of the appointments that were made by his predecessor Uhuru Kenyatta. 

In the restructuring, Ruto appointed his close allies including former Member of Parliament Sylvanus Maritim who lost to Benjamin Lang’at during the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) nominations of April 2022.Maritim will now serve as a non-executive chairperson of the Information and Communications Technology Authority for three years.

Maritim replaced Prof Fredrick Owino whose appointment as the non-executive chairman of the Information and Communications Technology Authority was duly revoked by the President. 

At the Capital Markets Authority, the Head of State appointed Ugas Mohamed who replaced Nick Nesbitt as the board chairperson.  

Ugas will work with new board members after the revocation of the appointments of John Kipkosgei Birech, Freshia Mugo Waweru, Mark Bichachi, Eli Kamau and Peter Mungai.

They were replaced by Natasha Awuor Aduwo, Elena Natalia Pellegrini, Meshack Moses Kiprono, Gibson Kimani Maina and Michael Bowen. 

Ruto also appointed Muyumba Simmon Indimuli as the Secretary of the State Corporations Advisory Committee (SCAC). 

Indimuli replaced Wanjiku Wakogi whose three-year contract was revoked by President William Ruto. 

Interestingly, Wanjiku Wakogi was appointed to be a member of the technical committee – the second tier of the Presidential Taskforce set to establish a National Lottery to oversee structures and systems in the country’s gaming industry.

The Head of State similarly appointed the chairperson of Talai Council of Elders, Reverend James Bassy, who led Ruto’s coronation as the political kingpin of Kalenjins instead of Kanu chairman Gideon Moi to the Board of the Kenya Cultural Centre Council. 

The former chairperson of the Myoot Council of Elders John Seii also got a job as a member of the Board of the Kenya Cultural Centre Council, for two years, with effect from February 24, 2023.