John Lonyangapuo, the former governor of West Pokot County and Kenya Union Party (KUP) leader, is the latest beneficiary of lucrative State jobs, following an appointment on Friday by President William Ruto.
Prof Lonyangapuo has been appointed him as the chairperson of North Rift Valley Water Works Development Agency (NRVWDA) for a period of nine months.
President Ruto said the appointment of David Chumba Chemweno had been revoked.
Prior to the August 2022 General Election, Prof Lonyangapuo was one of Dr Ruto’s fiercest critics, with his party supporting Azimio La Umoja One Kenya honcho Raila Odinga, only for him to switch camp after the Kenya Kwanza Alliance (KKA) took over the country’s leadership.
The former governor recently announced that KUP had cut ties with Azimio. The party has since declared support for President Ruto’s administration.
Prof Lonyangapuo accused Azimio of making unilateral decisions that do not represent the views of all partner parties, while describing the coalition as the ‘greatest threat to democracy, the rule of law and national cohesion in our nation’s recent history”.
Pokot South MP David Pkosing, who is the party’s secretary-general, disagreed with.
Prof Lonyangapuo, who defended governor seat on a KUP ticket, was trounced by President Ruto’s ally, Simon Kachapin, who vied under the United Democratic Alliance (UDA). The latter garnered 86,476 votes against the former’s 84,610.
Among the latest appointments by the head of state were also those of Brown Ondego and Odoyo Owidi.
Mr Ondego, the former Kenya Ports Authority managing director will serve as the chair of the board of the Kenya Civil Aviation Authority for three years starting March 10, stated the Gazette notice dated March 10.
Mr Owidi, aformer chair of the Lake Basin Development Authority board, was appointed to chair the board of the Lake Victoria South Water Works Development Agency from March 10 to June 4, 2023. President Ruto announced that he had revoked Daniel Omino’s appointment.
Mr Emilio Mugo, ormer chief forest conservator of the Kenya Forest Service (KFS) has made a comeback to the government with President Ruto appointing him the chairperson of the National Environmental Management Authority (NEMA) for three years.
Mr Mugo was among the KFS senior managers who were sent on compulsory leave in 2018 for allegedly abetting illegal logging. Others were Patrick Nyaga (Senior Manager, Finance and Administration), Dedan Gatiki (Assistant Chief Conservator of Forests, North Rift) and Boniface Simiyu (Deputy Chief Conservator of Forests, Plantations and Enterprise).
Other KFS staff affected by the board decision were Francis Kariuki, (Assistant Chief Conservator of Forests Eastern Conservancy, Embu) and Cosmas Ikiugu, Assistant Chief Conservator of Forests (Central Highlands).
Former Kisauni MP Ali Menza Mbogo was appointed the chairperson of thee Lapsset Corridor Development Authority for a period of three years.
On February 10, Mr Mbogo was appointed appointed non-executive chairperson or Kenya Tsetse and Trypanosomiasis Eradication Council and he was also one of the 242 persons who were interviewed for the position of Chief Administrative Secretary (CAS) job by Public Service Commission (PSC).
He will work alongside former former Lamu Senator Anuar Loitiptip, who was also interviewed for CAS job. Others were Shadrack Tulon, Abdikahiya Maalim, Nasra Ibrahim Ibren and Jeremiah Apalia Lomari.
Prof Raphael Munuve, chairperson of Presidential Working Party on Education Reforms, has been appointed the chairperson of the Konza Technopolis Development Authority for a period of three years.
Also in the latest State appointments Mr Odinga’s ally-turned-foe Odoyo Owidi who has been appointed the Lake Victoria South Water Works Development Agency (LVSWWDA) for a period of three months while top plastic surgeon Prof Stanley Khainga has landed the chairperson of the Kenya Medical Practitioners and Dentists Council.
Prof Khainga will work with Prof Stephen Ogendo, Dr Elizabeth W. Gitau, Dr Timothy Theuri Kabaiku, Moses Kiptanui, Sarah Bonaya and Dr Rose Jepchumba Kosgei at the board.
Dr Rispa Wapkhulu has been named the chairperson of the Kenya Literature Bureau. She will work with Doris Shianda, Edise Ndirangu, Leisangoo Maselino, Michael Ombaba Monarid and David Kinyor Kimeto while Francis Gichaba has landed the chairperson of the Kenya Tourism Board and former Kenya Ports Authority managing director Brown Ondego has gotten the Kenya Civil Aviation Authority (KCAA) job.
Other State parastatals which have gotten new board members include the Local Authorities
Provident Fund where Patrick Muchoki, Ruth Charity Wanyonyi, Barbara Kawira Japan, Robley Otieno Ngoje, Samwel Kariuki Maina and Christine Kibet have been appointed as board members by National Treasury Cabinet Secretary Prof Njuguna Ndung’u
Lydia Wanjiku Kariuki, Meymuna Osman Gabow, Perez Jepkorir, Harrison Njoroge Mwaura, Langat Kipkoech Leonard have member landed board job of the Kenya National Trading Corporation (KNTC) while Qalicha Guyo, Annistain Kemunto Mogaka, Rishad Amana, Lilian Apadet and Ezekiel Kibor have been appointed board members of the Kenya Maritime Authority (KMA).
Health CS Susan Wafula has appointed Dr Joseph Wafula Mutunga,Thomas Kipkoskei Cheruiyot and Catherine Kathure Samwel as members of board of directors of Kenyatta National Hospital while Transport CS Kipchumba Murkomen has appointed Muhumed Abdi Mohamed as the chairperson of the Kenya Railways Corporation.
The New Kenya Co-operative Creameries Limited have got new board members who include; Rukia Rashid, Col. (Rtd.) David Kipkurui Samoei, Hilda Wangari Gichuku, Geoffrey Noah Angwenyi and Elisha Biwot. BY DAILY NATION