President Ruto nominates Ahmed Issack Hassan as IPOA chair, 4 others for key State jobs

President William Ruto has nominated Ahmed Issack Hassan as the chairperson of the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) in several fresh key state appointments to government agencies.

In a statement on Tuesday, Ruto noted that Hassan was qualified for the position due to his wealth of experience in the legal field and having chaired the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC).

"The nominee is an Advocate of the High Court of Kenya with 30 years' experience as a legal practitioner and consultant in various countries including Kenya, Somalia, South Sudan, Namibia, and Afghanistan," reads the statement by Felix Koskei, Chief of Staff.

For the IPOA, Ruto also nominated seven members to the authority. They include; Ann Wanjiku Mwangi, Micah Onyiego Nyakego, Boniface Kipkemoi Samati, Annette Mbogoh, John Muchiri Nyaga, Ken Williams Nyakomitah, and Jackline Lukalo Mwenesi.

In the Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC), Sammy Chepkwony was named the chairperson designate. Chepkwony is currently the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer at People Centric Management Limited.

“He began his career as a senior consultant at Pricewaterhouse Coopers (PWC) Kenya. Chepkwony has also held various senior positions as Chairperson at Tata Chemicals Magadi Provident Fund, Human Resources Director at Kenya Airways Ltd, James Finlay Kenya Ltd, Human Resource Manager at Nairobi Bottlers Ltd and Regional Human Resource Director at Aga Khan University, “ reads the statement.

He is a Fellow of the Institute of Human Resources Management, a Member of the Institute of Directors-Kenya, a Certified Human Resource Professional (CHRP) Kenya, and has completed a Trustee Development Programme.

Other SRC nominees include Maj. Gen. (Rtd) Martin Kizito Ong'oyi (representing the Defence Council), Mohamed Aden Abdi (Senate nominee on behalf of County Governments), Jane Gatakaa Njage (TSC nominee), Leonid Ashindu (Association of Professional Societies in East Africa), Dr. Gilda Odera (Federation of Kenya Employers), and Dr. Geoffrey Apollo Omondi (COTU).

For the National Gender Equality Commission (NGEC), former Isiolo Woman Representative Rehema Jaldesa was selected as chairperson.

She has served as Chairperson of the Kenya Industrial Estates Board and Ewaso Ng'iro North Development Authority Board and as a Board Member of Kenya Seed Company.

Prior to her stint in public service, Jaldesa served in various roles at the Commercial Bank of Africa (CBA) and Kenya Commercial Bank (KCB).

"She holds a Master's Degree in Governance and Leadership from Jomo Kenyatta University of Science and Technology and a Bachelor's degree in Leadership and Management from St Paul's University,” reads the statement.

President Ruto also named Charles Orinda Dulo as chairperson of the Commission of Administrative Justice (CAJ), positioning him to serve as Kenya’s next Ombudsman. Dulo was among the founding members of the faculty of Daystar University's School of Law, where he still serves as a lecturer.

"He has also lectured law at various universities including Strathmore University School of Business, Daystar University School of Law, and Jomo Kenyatta University of Science and Technology (JKUAT) School of Law,” reads the statement.

Former Starehe MP Charles Njagua Kanyi, also known as Jaguar, and Dorothy Jemator Kimengech were nominated as members of CAJ.

Lastly, President Ruto nominated Gerald Nyaoma Arita as the Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Kenya (CBK).

"The nominee is a career central banker with 36 years of professional experience and is the outgoing Director of the Bank Supervision Department at the Central Bank of Kenya (CBK)," the statement read.

Nyaoma has previously held various positions within the Central Bank of Kenya, including Director of Financial Markets Development, Director of Banking Services, Director of Bank Supervision Department, Acting Director of Internal Audit Department, Senior Manager of National Payment Services Division, and Assistant Branch Manager at Mombasa Branch, among others.

The Chief of Staff noted that the names have already been forwarded to Parliament.

“It is notified that His Excellency the President has formally transmitted to Parliament the names of the candidates for these roles,” reads the statement.