Safaricom CEO Peter Ndegwa, Atwoli among Ruto's new State appointees

Safaricom CEO Peter Ndegwa has been named the Meru University of Science and Technology Chancellor, in a raft of new State appointments made by President William Ruto.

According to a fresh gazette notice seen by Citizen Digital, Ndegwa will assume his new role effective November 1, 2023, for a period of five years.

“In exercise of the powers conferred by section 38 (1) (a) of the Universities Act, 2012, I, William Samoei Ruto, President of the Republic of Kenya and Commander-in-Chief of the Defence Forces, appoint– Peter Ndegwa Waititu to be the Chancellor of the Meru University of Science and Technology, for a period of five (5) years, with effect from the 1st November 2023,” read the notice.

Ndegwa takes over from Equity Bank boss James Mwangi whose tenure lapsed on July 20, 2023, having served in the position for two five-year terms. Mwangi is the current Chancellor of the Open University of Kenya (OUK).

The President, according to the gazette notice, also appointed COTU Secretary General Francis Atwoli's son Prof. Lukoye Atwoli as the non-executive Chairperson of the Board of Directors of Mathari National Teaching and Referral Hospital.

Prof. Lukoye will also serve in the position for a three-year period, effective from October 17, 2023.

President Ruto further appointed former Ijara MP Sophia Abdi Noor as the Chairperson of the National Council for Children Services, as well as ex-Bobasi MP aspirant Lucas Mogoa to be a member of the State Corporations Advisory Committee.

In the same gazette notice, Chief Justice Martha Koome stated that the Supreme Court  will proceed on recess from December 21, 2023 and resume on January 13, 2024.

“The duty Judge will be available during recess to deal with urgent matters. During this period, the Supreme Court Registry shall be open to the public from 8.30 a.m. to 5.00 p.m. on all weekdays other than public holidays,” noted the CJ.

Interior Cabinet Secretary Prof. Kithure Kindiki appointed former Turkana CECM Benson Logiel Lokwang as a member of the Non-Governmental Organization Co-ordination Board.

His Treasury counterpart appointed Prof. Peter Kibet Koech to be a member of the Kenya Institute for Public Policy Research and Analysis.