Marsabit County officer scoops prestigious African governance award

Serving most of his career life in a region categorised by the Public Service Commission as a hardship area did not deter Ambrose Lkusulan Lochokwe, a career civil servant from Marsabit County, from winning a prestigious African award for the second time.

Lochokwe, the Marsabit County Public Service Board chairman, was recognised as the distinguished winner of the Overall Best Public Service Administrator Across Africa in an event held in Mauritius between February 7 and 10, 2024.

The prestigious continental award recognised Lochokwe’s exceptional contribution to public governance in 2024. He got the highest score among the nominees in his category.

The confirmation letter seen by The Eastleigh Voice states that the administrator was recognised as one of the leading lights in Africa’s ongoing political and social-economic renaissance, and presents him to the world as worthy of international public acclaim as a standard setter for public institutions across the continent.

In a phone interview with The Eastleigh Voice, Lochokwe said he was elated and motivated by the award. To receive the award, there was a rigorous nomination process that involved public nomination, research consultancy, and assessment by experts from an international awards selection jury.

“When I received the confirmation mail, I read it more than three times — the wording, the process, and how they eventually settled on me — I was thrilled,” Lochokwe said.

He said the unique event — billed as the largest gathering of top-tier public officials in Africa and exemplary private sector enterprises, institutions, and individuals who supported good governance efforts in Africa and other continents — was the most remarkable that he has attended recently.

Lochokwe added that the event presented him with an opportunity he never had before, as he interacted with other leading lights in public governance in Africa and other award winners in different categories.

Another Kenyan, Dr Andrew Mulwa, the CEO of the Kenya Medical Supplies Authority, also received the award of the Most Outstanding Medical Supplies Authority Across Africa.

Others who received awards were the Ethiopian Minister for Industries Melaku Alabel and Comoros Minister for Finance and Budget Abdou Mohamed.

In December 2022, Lochokwe received the award of The Overall Best Chieftain in Championing and Transforming Development in Public Service in Africa in a ceremony held in Accra, Ghana.

During the 2023 Mashujaa Day celebrations, President William Ruto awarded Lochokwe the Order of the Grand Warrior of Kenya, recognising him for his exemplary work in the civil service.

Born in December 1979, Lochokwe was raised by a pastoralist family in Ngurunit village in Laisamis Constituency.

He considers himself privileged because the bulk of his peers did not have the opportunity to attend school due to the pastoralist lifestyle, which prioritised herding animals above formal schooling.

After completing his primary school education in 1994, Lochokwe joined St Paul’s Secondary School in Marsabit and later joined Moi University for a Bachelor of Arts degree in Language and Literacy.

He secured his first job in 2005 with the Parliamentary Service Commission as a constituency manager in Laisamis.

In 2008, he joined the provincial administration as a district officer and he was posted to Takaba Division in Mandera West Sub-County and was later sent to the sub-county headquarters before being moved to Garissa in the same capacity.

In 2016, he quit his position as an assistant county commissioner in Mumias Municipality and joined the county government of Marsabit as the Laisamis Sub-County administrator.

When asked why he left his job as a national government administrator to work for the county administration, Lochokwe replied, "I realised it was time to serve my community at the grassroots level under the devolved system."

His dedication and commitment at the sub-county level saw him rise to a senior rank at the county level where he was appointed the chairperson of the Marsabit County Public Service Board in July 2019, a position he still holds.

Lochokwe is also the chairperson of the Ethics, Governance Compliance and Audit Committee besides being a member of other committees at the county.

He says he built a cohesive and committed team with a clear vision to serve the public.

Lochokwe was acknowledged for leading the development of policies that ensured minorities, women, persons with disabilities, and youth access to opportunities at the ward level.

He urges other civil servants to be dedicated to their work and serve people selflessly.

“Selflessness and serving the public in a transparent, fair manner, laced with impeccable integrity will never go unnoticed and uncelebrated,” Lochokwe insists.

Lochokwe says working in northern Kenya, a region categorised as a hardship area due to the exceptional difficulties in terms of infrastructure, accessibility and tough living conditions, should never be a hindrance to making a difference in one’s career as a public servant.

He urges public servants to observe resilience, respect their seniors, have cross-cultural awareness and employ problem-solving skills in their day-to-day work.

When asked if he plans to enter politics after finishing his six-year term, Lochokwe, the younger brother of former Marsabit senator Yussuf Harugurah, said he wants to run for the county's gubernatorial seat in 2027, when the current governor's two mandates expire.