Ruto Gives Ex-Uhuru CS Job In Executive

President William Ruto has poached former East African Community and Regional Development Cabinet Secretary (CS) Adan Mohamed into his Executive.

Chief of Staff and Head of Public Service Felix Koskei announced on Wednesday, November 2 that Adan was appointed to the President's Council of Economic Advisors.

Alongside him at the council is Prof. Vincent Machuki, also appointed by the Head of State.

"In the implementation of his transformative economic plan for Kenya, his Excellency the President continues to constitute the advisory function within the Executive Office of the President and other key state offices," said Koskei.

Former East African Community and Regional Development Cabinet Secretary (CS) Adan Mohamed. /CITIZEN DIGITAL 

"It is therefore notified that the Head of State and Government has made additional appointments within the ranks of the Executive Office of the President and other and other organs of State."  

President Ruto also appointed Bernice Silaal Lemedeket to the position of the National Police Service's (NPS) Principal Administrative Secretary and Accounting Officer.

Adan also previously served as the Cabinet Secretary for Industry, Trade & Cooperatives from 2013 to 2018, as well as the Acting Cabinet Secretary for the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries for a year in 2015.

Prior to his appointment to serve in the Public Service, he was the Chief Administrative Officer for Barclays Africa (now called Absa bank in Africa), with responsibility for ten (10) Barclays Bank subsidiaries in Africa.

Adan also performed various senior roles in Barclays including CEO of Barclays Kenya for over 10 years and Managing Director – Barclays East and West Africa. He also worked in senior Finance roles in Barclays Bank Group. 

Prior to joining Barclays, he worked for Pricewaterhouse Coopers (London) in the Management Consultancy and Business Advisory Services. His international career has seen him serve in the UK, US and Africa.

He  served in many other capacities both in private and public sector in Kenya, including:  Chairman of Kenya Bankers Association, Member of the Kenya National Economic and Social Council (NESC), and as the Council Chairman of Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT) amongst others.

He led Kenya’s doing business climate reform program that saw Kenya ranked one of the most reformed economies globally for three consecutive years by the World Bank Group. Under his leadership, Kenya made an impressive improvement to rank 61st globally in 2018, up from 136th in 2014. 

Adan launched his bid for the Mandera gubernatorial seat in February 2022 after resigning from former President Uhuru Kenyatta's Cabinet.

“After having worked for myself, for private companies in Europe, America, Africa and also being in government for the past nine years in different dockets, I feel it is time to take the talents home,” said Mr Mohammed.

“I have had a lot of consultation with people in and out of Mandera County, including the President, a lot of my colleagues and even senior people. I saw that this is the time to work for my people,” he added.

The Council of Economic Advisors is an agency within the Executive Office of the President. It is charged with offering the President objective economic advice on the formulation of both domestic and international policy.

At the council, Adan will join renowned economist, David Ndii, who was appointed as its chair on Friday, October 14.

From left: Economist David Ndii, MP Kimani Ichungwa (Kikuyu MP) and President William Ruto at a past event. /FILE