Balala Recovers From Ruto Cabinet Rejection With New Job
The organization in a statement on Thursday, November 3 praised Balala for his significant role in boosting tourism in Kenya, adding that his extensive experience will be valuable to the organization.
Marvin Chege 
Former Tourism Cabinet Secretary Najib Balala has landed a top international job after he was one of the biggest names to be left out of President William Ruto's Cabinet.
Balala, an EGH holder, was appointed by the Fauna & Flora International (FFI), an international wildlife conservation charity organization, as its vice president.
The organization in a statement on Thursday, November 3 praised Balala for his significant role in boosting tourism in Kenya, adding that his extensive experience will be valuable to the organization.
Najib Balala with FFI CEO Mark Rose on November 3, 2022. /TWITTER.NAJIB BALALA
"International wildlife conservation charity, Fauna & Flora International (FFI) has announced the appointment of Honourable Najib Balala, EGH, as a new vice president.
"As FFI's vice-president, Hon. Balala will use his experience in wildlife conservation and tourism to support the charity with the future development of its work and partnerships globally," read part of the statement.
FFI CEO Mark Rose welcomed Balala to the organization, expressing hope that he will be a good ambassador to the organization.
Balala on his part praised the appointment, stating that "Thank you for the appointment, Flora and Fauna International. I am grateful and honoured to have been chosen to serve as FFI's Vice President."
Balala was the longest-serving Minister in the Kenyan Government having served 25 years in service, with 17 years as a Minister, of which 12 years as the Minister of Tourism.
He started his public service career after being the mayor of the city of Mombasa in 1998 and served as a Member of Parliament (MP) for Mvita Constituency, Mombasa County, between 2002 to 2013. During his tenure as Mvita MP, he also served as a Minister for Gender, Sports, Culture and Social Services from 2003 to 2004, and Minister for National Heritage from 2004 to 2005.
In 2013, he also served as the first Minister in the Ministry of Mining and is credited with delivering the Draft Mining Bill in 2014, the first policy and institutional framework review of Kenya’s mining sector since 1940.
In addition to his ministerial duties, Balala has advocated for community empowerment, and promotion of cultural and local heritage, with enthusiasm for conserving the Swahili culture.
He is credited with steering Kenya’s tourism sector to recovery following the post-election violence in 2008. He played a significant role in boosting growth and stability in the Kenyan and regional tourism sector, working closely with private and institutional investors, and with conservation and regional development agencies to ensure that the economic potential of this vital sector was both prudently and sustainably managed.
Balaa was born in 1967 and is trained in International Urban Management at the University of Toronto, Canada. He underwent the Executive Program for Leaders in Development at the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University.
He was notably the biggest name that missed out on Ruto's Cabinet Secretary nominations, given that he was the first CS in Uhuru's cabinet to warm up to Ruto since his election as President.
Serving now in his place is Peninah Malonza. As FFI’s vice-president, Balala will use his experience in wildlife conservation and tourism to support the charity with the future development of its work and partnerships globally.
Former Tourism CS Najib Balala with Naomi Campbell, formerly Magical Kenya's International Tourism Ambassador. /TWITTER.MAGICAL KENYA
