The Minister of Finance, now known as National Treasury Cabinet Secretary (CS), oversees the government’s financial affairs.
Prof. Njuguna Ndung’u is the 16th finance minister and the third Treasury CS under the 2010 Constitution.
Various economists and top politicians have held this position since independence, each achieving distinct milestones under different economic conditions.
However, their careers post-tenure reflects a mix of continued public service, political evolution, and, in some cases, legal challenges.
First Finance Boss-James Gichuru
James Gichuru was Kenya’s first Finance Minister who served from 1963 to 1969.
As a close ally of Jomo Kenyatta, he presented budgets that minimally affected the cost of living and was instrumental in establishing the African Development Bank.
He later served as Minister for Defence until his death in August 1982.
Mwai Kibaki
Mwai Kibaki served as Minister of Finance from 1969 to 1982, during which Kenya experienced steady economic growth.
He later became Vice President, then President of Kenya in 2002 and 2007, before retiring in 2013.
Kibaki passed away on April 21, 2022.
Arthur Magugu
Arthur Magugu served as Finance Minister between 1982 and 1988.
He is remembered for implementing health warnings on tobacco products and banning smoking in public.
Magugu passed away in September 2012.
George Saitoti’s Era
George Saitoti, appointed as Finance Minister in 1983, later became Kenya’s longest-serving Vice President.
He held various cabinet positions until his death in a plane crash in June 2012.
Musalia Mudavadi
Musalia Mudavadi served as Finance Minister from 1993 to 1997.
He later became Vice President and Deputy Prime Minister and is currently the Prime Cabinet Secretary and the Foreign and Diaspora CS.
Simeon Nyachae
Simeon Nyachae, was appointed Finance Minister in 1998, later served in various ministries.
He ran for President in 2002 and held ministerial positions in Kibaki’s government before retiring from politics.
He fell ill in 2018 and died in 2021 at the age of 88.
Chris Okemo
Chris Okemo served as Finance Minister from 1999 to 2001.
He faced corruption charges related to government tenders but was not extradited due to lack of evidence.
He now serves in the Busia County Budget and Economic Forum.
Christopher Obure
Christopher Obure succeeded Okemo as Finance Minister and served until 2003.
He later served as Kisii Senator from 2013 to 2017 and Chief Administrative Secretary in the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure in Uhuru’s last term.
David Mwiraria
David Mwiraria served as Finance Minister from 2003 but resigned in 2006 over the Anglo Leasing scandal.
He later served as Minister for Environment before his death in April 2017.
Amos Kimunya
Amos Kimunya became Finance Minister in 2006 but resigned over corruption allegations in 2008.
He was later cleared and served as Minister of Trade.
Kimunya was the Kipipiri MP and National Assembly Majority Leader until 2022.
Uhuru Kenyatta
Uhuru Kenyatta served as Finance Minister from 2009 to 2012 before being elected President in 2013 and 2017.
He currently serves as AU-Kenya Peace Envoy and Facilitator of the EAC-Led Nairobi Peace Process.
Njeru Githae
Having served as Ndia MP from 2003, Kibaki picked Njeru Githae as his last finance minister.
He was later appointed as Kenya’s ambassador to the United States after Uhuru took over.
Githae returned to the spotlight in May 2024 when he launched 15 books he authored.
Henry Rotich
President Uhuru Kenyatta appointed Henry Rotich as the first Treasury CS under the 2010 constitution, retaining him after the 2017 elections.
In 2018, DPP Noordin Haji ordered Rotich’s arrest and prosecution over corruption allegations related to the construction of Arror and Kimwarer dams, leading to his removal from office.
However, in December 2023, an anti-corruption court cleared Rotich and eight others of the corruption charges.
Ukur Yatani
Ukur Yattani was moved from the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection to replace Rotich in 2020.
Yatani handed over the docket to Prof. Njuguna Ndung’u after President William Ruto took office in 2022.
He is currently facing corruption charges for allegedly embezzling public funds amounting to Ksh1.2 billion during his tenure as Marsabit Governor.
In May 2024, the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) obtained court orders to preserve Ksh62 million seized from Yatani.
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