Ruto Names New Parastatal Board Chairs in Fresh Appointments

President William Ruto has sanctioned appointments in various state parastatals. In a gazette notice dated August 15, 2025, Ruto made new appointments to the Commission of University Education (CUE) and the Jomo Kenyatta Foundation (JKF).

Among the appointees was Professor James Onyango Owino, who was picked to be the non-executive chairperson of the Commission for University Education, a post he will hold for the next three years.

“IN EXERCISE of the powers conferred by section 6 (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— James Onyango Owino (PROF.) to be the Non-Executive Chairperson of the Commission for University Education, for a period of three (3) years, with effect from the 15th August, 2025,” the gazette notice reads.

CUE is a body established by an Act of Parliament, the Universities Act, No. 42 of 2012, as the successor to the Commission for Higher Education (CHE).

Ruto makes fresh appointments

The Commission was established to make better provisions for the advancement of quality university education in Kenya, which entails regulating and accrediting universities and universities academic programmes, among other functions.

President Ruto has also appointed John Antira Ketora to be non-executive chairperson of the board of the Jomo Kenyatta Foundation.

Established in 1966, JKF is a parastatal under the Ministry of Education, with a mandate of serving a key national development objective, namely, the provision of educational materials that complement national development goals of self-reliance and industrialization. Ketora will serve in the new JKF post until August 2028.

At the same time, Ruto reappointed Retired Vice Chief of Defence Forces Lieutenant General Levi Franklin Mghalu to be the non-executive chairperson of the Board of Directors of the Kenya National Shipping Line for a period of three years.

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The Head of State has further initiated the process to recruit a new chairperson and members of the National Land Commission (NLC), ahead of the expiry of the current team’s term in November 2025.

Process to recruit a new NLC team initiated 

In the notice, the president underscored the importance of ensuring continuity in the operations of constitutional commissions, citing the need for a smooth transition.

“The inaugural chairperson and members of the Commission assumed office on 27th February, 2013, and the subsequent complement on 15th November, 2019; Whereas, there are impending vacancies in the membership of the Commission arising from the anticipated lapse of the six-year non-renewable term of office of the current members with effect from 14th November, 2025; and whereas, there exists a constitutional duty to ensure a seamless transition in the management of affairs of Constitutional Commissions and Independent Offices by initiating the recruitment process at least six months prior to the end of the term of incumbent officeholders,” the notice reads.

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To oversee the recruitment, the president appointed a seven-member selection panel comprising: Jasper Micheni Mbiuki, Peris C.K. Mang’ira, Electine Nasambu, Ann Mwangangi, Bibiana Rabuku Omalla, Nichola Letting, and Rehema Dida Jaldesa.

The members of the NLC serve for a single six-year term, with no option for renewal. The current team, led by Gershom Otachi, took office in 2019 following the departure of the inaugural commission chaired by Mohammed Swazuri, which served from 2013 to 2019.

Established in 2012 under the National Land Commission Act, the NLC is responsible for managing public land on behalf of the national and county governments. Its other functions include formulating national land policy, advising on land registration, and investigating historical land injustices.

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