Ruto Gives CEOs New Jobs In Executive Order [LIST]

The Head of State formed the committee in order to tackle the ravaging effects of drought in the country.

Marvin Chege Marvin Chege
Nov 21, 2022 - 14:21 Updated: Nov 21, 2022 - 14:21
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Ruto Gives CEOs New Jobs In Executive Order [LIST]
President William Ruto speaking to other leaders and Police Commanders at State House on Wednesday, November 16, 2022. /PCS

President William Ruto has established the National Steering Committee on Drought Response consisting of 15 members, most of them company Chief Executive Officers (CEO).

In a gazette notice dated Monday, November 21, the Head of State formed the committee in order to tackle the ravaging effects of drought in the country.

"I, William Samoei Ruto, President and Commander-in-Chief of the Kenya Defence Forces, in exercise of the powers conferred on me by the Constitution and the Laws of the Republic of Kenya, do hereby establish the National Steering Committee on Drought Response. The National Steering Committee shall comprise of Peter Ndegwa, CEO, Safaricom PLC — Chairperson," read part of the notice.

Safaricom CEO, Peter Ndegwa, will chair the committee consisting of members drawn from the private sector.

Safaricom CEO, Peter Ndegwa. /KENYAN WALLSTREET

Other members include James Mwangi (CEO of Equity Bank), Nasim Devji (CEO of Diamond Trust Bank), Shumaz Savani (CEO of ABC Bank) and Paul Rushdie Russo (CEO of KCB).

Rebecca Mbithi (CEO of Family Bank), Jane Karuku (CEO of EABL), Joshua Chepkwony (CEO of Jamii Telcom) and Crispin Acholla (CEO of British American Tobacco) were also included.

Others are Asha Mohammed (Secretary General, Kenya Red Cross), Edwins Mukabanah (CEO of Kenya Bus Service Management), Patricia Mugambi (Impact Philanthropy), Krishna Jitesh (ISHA Foundation) and Hared Hassan (National Drought Management Authority).

President Ruto tasked the committee with mobilizing resources to augment the government's drought response programme to alleviate the impact of the drought. 

The committee will also collaborate with national and county governments to strengthen the national capacity for resilient recovery and protect development gains from recurrent drought.

It will serve for a period of one year effective immediately and will be reporting to Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua.

During his speech at the 2022 United Nations Climate Change Conference alias COP 27 on Monday, November 7, President Ruto expressed that the Horn of Africa region, including Kenya, is experiencing the worst drought in 40 years and that consecutive years without rain have visited misery on millions of people. 2.5 million livestock have died in Kenya this year alone causing economic losses of more than Ksh183.3 billion (USD1.5 billion).

"Two days ago, we went to distribute food relief to 4.3 million affected Kenyans in an emergency programme that has forced us to reallocate funds budgeted for education and health. The trade-offs we are forced to make between indispensable public goods are evidence that climate change is directly threatening our people’s lives, health and future.

"Moreover, due to drought, many children have now dropped out of school. We have been compelled to make school feeding a priority in order to keep children in class," he said.

Dry ground during drought in Kenya. /FILE

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