Ruto Announces Former Transport CS's Comeback In Govt
Kamau is a career public officer who joined the civil service as an entry-level civil servant and rose to Cabinet Secretary.
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President William Ruto has appointed former Transport Cabinet Secretary, Michael Kamau to be the Chairperson of the National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF).
He will hold the position for three years effective immediately and will take over from Lewis Nguyai in the critical institution, whose appointment was revoked after he was picked by former President Uhuru Kenyatta.
“In exercise of the powers conferred by section 4 (1) (a) of the National Health Insurance Fund Act, I, William Samoei Ruto, President and Commander-in-Chief of the Defence Forces of the Republic of Kenya, appoint Michael Kamau (Eng.) to be the Chairperson of the National Health Insurance Fund, for a period of three years, with effect from the 23rd December 2022," a gazette notice read in part.
Kamau is a career public officer who joined the civil service as an entry-level civil servant and rose to Cabinet Secretary.
Former Transport CS, Michael Kamau. /CITIZEN DIGITAL
He joined the public service as an assistant engineer in 1981 and rose through the ranks to Permanent Secretary, before being appointed Transport and Infrastructure CS by Uhuru in 2013.
Born in 1958 in Nyeri, Kamau attended Hill Farm Primary School before joining St Mary’s Boys Secondary School. He proceeded to Nyeri High School for his O’ and A’ levels and later to the University of Nairobi to pursue civil engineering.
He also attended the University of Newcastle Upon Tyne, UK, for a master's degree in Engineering and undertook professional engineering courses at the South Korea Institute of Construction Technology and the Belgian Road Research Centre.
He served as Permanent Secretary under both the late powerful Ministers Simeon Nyachae and John Michuki, and it was not until 1998 that he tried to resign from the government to join the private sector only for him to be recalled by the late Kenya's second president Daniel Moi.
He considered retiring towards the end of late president Mwai Kibaki's tenure to run for governor in his home county of Nyeri but deputy prime minister and presidential candidate at the time Uhuru Kenyatta prevailed on him to stay put and wait to be in his administration if he won.
It was in under Kibaki's tenure in 2007 that he rose from assistant engineer to engineer, then superintendent engineer, senior superintending engineer, chief superintending engineer, principal superintending engineer, chief engineer, Roads Secretary and, finally, Permanent Secretary.
In his new role, he is expected to make sure that each meeting is planned effectively, and conducted according to the constitution and that matters are dealt with in an orderly, efficient manner at NHIF. The Chairperson must make the most of all his/her committee members, building and leading the team.
Other Appointments
Engineer Kamau is not alone. President Ruto announced six other appointments across State corporations on Friday, December 23.
The Head of State has also appointed Lt Gen (Rtd) Walter Rarira Koipation as the chairperson of the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) Board for three years, effective immediately. He replaces Gen (Rtd) Joseph Kibwana.
Ruto has appointed Antony Muriuki Munyiri to chair the National Social Security Fund (NSSF) Board of Trustees for a period of three years.
He has revoked the appointment of Gen. (Dr.) Julius Waweru Karangi, but appointed the former Chief of Defence Forces as the chairperson of the National Council for Population and Development Board until July 20, 2024, replacing David Ngugi.
The president has also appointed Faith Boinett to be the chairperson of the Kenya Pipeline Company Limited (KPC) Board of Directors for three years, effective immediately.
“The appointment of Rita Achieng Okuthe is revoked,” Ruto said.
