President William Ruto on March 15, 2024, appointed former Mumias East Member of Parliament (MP) Benjamin Washiali as the new Chairperson of the Board of the Tourism Regulatory Authority.
The Head of State made the appointment in a gazette notice, noting that the appointment, would take effect immediately for three years.
“In Exercise of the powers conferred by section 8 (1) (a) of the Tourism Act, as read together with section 51 (1) of the Interpretation and General Provisions Act, I, William Ruto, President of the Republic of Kenya and Commander-in-Chief of the Defence Forces, appoint Benjamin Washiali to be the Chairperson of the Board of the Tourism Regulatory Authority, for a period of three (3) years,” read the Gazette notice.
Washiali’s appointment saw the consequent revoking of the appointment of Halima Yussuf Mucheke by the Head of State.
Mucheke was appointed as the Kenyan Ambassador to the Hague, Netherlands by Ruto in a dispatch released by the Head of Public Service Felix Koskei on Friday, March 8, 2024.
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The former MP who is a close ally to the President, was a key point man for Ruto and his United Democratic Party (UDA) in the Western region during the 2022 general election campaigns.
Washiali backs Ruto
Washiali publicly displayed his loyalty to the President prior to the election when he announced that he would not be running for a political office.
According to the legislator, the decision came as he resorted to direct his resources to campaign for the then Deputy President Ruto in the Presidential elections.
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“I will not be vying as an MP Mumias East. I will dedicate all my energy and resources to UDA Party, and election of William Samoei Ruto,” Washiali said then.
The MP had served the Mumias East constituents for a period of 15 years and was succeeded by the current MP Peter Salasya.
Also appointed by President Ruto in the March 15 gazette notice was Silas Simatwo who will assume the role of the Chairperson of the Digital Health Agency, for a period of three years, taking effect immediately.
