President William Ruto has appointed former Trade Cabinet Secretary Phyllis Kandie as his advisor on Commodities Market Development.
In a statement on Tuesday, September 19, Kandie- who served in President Uhuru Kenyatta’s government, confirmed her appointment to the role.
Further, Kandie committed to working diligently to help Ruto’s government achieve its vision.
In particular, she mentioned reforms in the agriculture sector as an area of interest in her new role.
“I undertake to work diligently with all stakeholders to ensure that his vision to streamline the agriculture sector by setting up a licensed, regulated private sector led National Commodities Exchange that shall link the Farmer to both the domestic and international markets become a reality,” Kandie noted.
About Kandie
Born in 1965, Kandie was appointed as the Cabinet Secretary for East African Community Affairs in 2013 under Uhuru’s first administration.
She also served in other dockets until 2018 when she ventured into diplomacy as Kenya’s Ambassador to Belgium and the European Union.
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Prior to her appointment as CS, Kandie had worked in various positions including as a consultant in the European Union (EU) and the World Bank.
During her five-year tenure at the helm of the docket, Kandie took charge of matters pertaining to the relationship between Kenya and EAC member states on several issues including trade.
In terms of her academic background, Kandie holds a bachelor’s degree in commerce with specialization in economics from St. Mary’s University in Canada.
Additionally, Kandie has an MBA in Finance from the University of Middlesex in the United Kingdom.
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Ruto appoints Keter
Notably, the President also appointed former Energy CS Charlse Keter as his advisor on Great Lakes Region Affairs.
The region encompasses countries including the Democratic Republic of Congo, Mozambique, Malawi, Zambia, and Tanzania.
In their positions, Kandie and Keter will be charged with influencing the government’s policies and agenda in relation to their areas.
