Ruto Picks Mudavadi Ally For State House Job, Gives New Role To Kenyan Envoy To US

President William Ruto has appointed career diplomat Lazarus Amayo, Kenya's outgoing ambassador to the US, as the Special Envoy for the African Union's Champion for Institutional Reforms.

The appointment, communicated on Tuesday, May 14 by Chief of Staff and Head of Public Service, Felix Koskei, will see Amayo support the Ministry of Foreign & Diaspora Affairs in steering his unique mandate in the African Union.

Koskei revealed that the appointment aims to support the country's regional and continental outreach.

"To support the Ministry of Foreign & Diaspora Affairs in steering the President's unique mandate as the African Union Champion for Institutional Reform, the Head of State has, with the approval of the Public Service Commission (PSC), appointed Ambassador Lazarus Amayo as the Special Envoy of the African Union Champion for Institutional Reforms.

Lazarus Amayo, Kenya's outgoing ambassador to the US. /KENYA EMBASSY DC

"The Special Envoy is expected to play a critical role in driving AU's institutional reforms in liaison with the State Department for Foreign Affairs and the African Union institutions," the statement read in part.

Amayo is the outgoing ambassador of Kenya to the United States based in Washington DC.

He has previously held several senior public positions, among them; Ambassador/Permanent Representative to the United Nations (2018-2020), High Commissioner of Kenya to the United Kingdom (2014-2018), the Permanent Representative of Kenya to the International Maritime Organization (IMO) and the Commonwealth Organization.

The special envoy designate previously served as the Director for Europe and Commonwealth Division at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Trade (2010-2014), High Commissioner of Kenya to Zambia and Malawi and Permanent Representative to COMESA (2006-2010), Kenya's High Commissioner to India with concurrent accreditation to Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Singapore (1999-2004).

Furthermore, President Ruto, with the approval of the Public Service Commission, re-established the position of Deputy Comptroller of State House and appointed Simon Mwangi Kamau-Gikuru to the role.

"Gikuru is an Advocate of the High Court of Kenya with over a decade of experience in law, management, strategic planning, policy formulation, financial administration, consultancy, logistics, and conflict resolution," added the statement.

He is the immediate former Secretary General of the Amani National Congress Party and has previously worked as a Managing Associate at Chege Kamau & Company Advocates.

He also worked as the Group Managing Director of Amoo Holdings International Limited, a regional logistics firm that had operations in Kenya, Uganda, South Sudan, Tanzania, and DRC.

The incoming Deputy Comptroller of State House holds a Master of Law (LL.M) degree from the University of Nairobi, a postgraduate diploma in law from the Kenya School of Law and a Bachelor of Laws (LL.B) degree from Makerere University, Uganda. 

Gikuru has also undertaken postgraduate training in Global Entrepreneurship and Innovation at the internationally acclaimed Manning School of Business, University of Massachusetts.

"With the immense expertise and experience of the newly appointed officials, the Head of State and Government is confident that the two public officers will contribute enormously towards the realization of our shared aspirations for a fair, just, and equitable nation with shared prosperity for all, as espoused in the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA)," Koskei concluded.

With the new appointment, Gikuru is expected to provide assistance to the State House comptroller, former Kajiado South MP, Katoo ole Metito, meaning the two are important in ensuring Ruto delivers on his mandate. Any lapse in executing this duty may affect the general delivery of the head of state. 

Simon Gikuru taking oath at State House after being appointed as a Cabinet Administrative Secretary (CAS). /SIMON GIKURU.X

Additionally, the two State House Comptrollers will also work in tandem with Ruto's doctor to ensure that his health checks are scheduled and undertaken. Moreover, they will also take full responsibility for ensuring that State House is well supplied with all commodities to meet Ruto's preferences, and will work with Koskei while executing their mandate.

Essentially, Gikuru and Metito's roles are among the most powerful in the country as the holders interact with the President on a more personal level, and anyone wielding them is considered to have reached the pinnacle of Kenya's public service. 

This is given that the person he or she is serving and the tasks involved are the ultimate challenges for any civil servant in the country.