Public Investments PS nominee Cyrell Odede pledges to digitise government assets
The 62-year-old nominee further addressed the proposed reforms outlined in the January 2025 Cabinet Memo, including merging state corporations with overlapping roles.
Public Investment and Asset Management Principal Secretary nominee Cyrell Odede has pledged to digitise government assets and liabilities, restructure inefficient state corporations, and identify revenue opportunities from idle public assets.
According to Odede, the reforms will help curb corruption by eliminating manual record-keeping systems vulnerable to manipulation.
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Speaking on Friday while appearing before the Molo MP Kuri Kimani-led Departmental Committee on Finance and National Planning, Odede outlined his vision for a more efficient and transparent management of state corporations.
He emphasised his commitment to bringing professionalism to these institutions and implementing strategies to combat corruption.
“The current manual recording system for government assets and liabilities is vulnerable to tampering. Digitization is paramount. We also require a standardized asset valuation framework across all sectors,” Odede said.
The 62-year-old nominee further addressed the proposed reforms outlined in the January 2025 Cabinet Memo, including merging state corporations with overlapping roles. He assured the committee that he would prioritise the implementation of these reforms to improve efficiency.
When questioned by committee members about managing idle assets, particularly those belonging to public universities, Odede proposed a strategic evaluation of these assets.
“Hon. Members, if approved, I will assess all assets to identify those that can generate economic value through leasing and those that are unsustainable for sale, while directing the proceeds to settle institutional debts,” Odede said.
Privatisation of state corporations
The legislators also raised the sensitive issue of privatising certain state corporations, seeking to gauge Odede’s ability to navigate the political complexities involved in such a process.
Acknowledging the critical nature of his role, committee members stressed the importance of collaboration and teamwork for effective delivery within the new department.
“If confirmed, I will foster a collaborative environment to ensure the success of this newly created State Department,” Odede said.
Odede holds a Bachelor of Commerce from Nagpur University in India (1985) and a Master of Arts in Economics (1987) from the same university.
He has had a long career at the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA), rising from a Revenue Officer to Deputy Commissioner for Intelligence Management Operations before retiring in November 2022.
Since 2023, he has been lecturing at the Kenya School of Revenue Administration.
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