President William Ruto has replaced Uhuru Kenyatta’s sister in his latest five new government appointments.

In the September 12 issue of the Kenya Gazette, the President first appointed Francis Ndungu Kibera to chair the Board of Trustees of the National Fund for the Disabled of Kenya, effective immediately.

“In exercise of the powers conferred by clause 11 (b) of th Deed and Declaration of Trust, 1981 of the National Fund for the Disabled of Kenya, I, William Samoei Ruto, President of the Republic of Kenya and Commander-in-Chief of the Defence Forces, appoint Prof. Francis Ndungu Kibera to be the Chairperson of the Board of Trustees of the National Fund for the Disabled of Kenya, with effect from the 12th September, 2025,” the notice read.

Kibera will succeed Dr. Kristina Kenyatta-Pratt—former President Uhuru Kenyatta’s sister, who has held the position for 23 years since her appointment on January 8, 2002.

Alongside Kibera’s appointment, former MP Ibrahim Abass was named to the National Syndemic Disease Control Council (NSDCC) board, signaling the president’s intent to infuse fresh leadership and energy into the institution.

Dr. Kenyatta-Pratt leaves behind a legacy of expanding disability programs, including the provision of assistive devices, education opportunities, and empowerment initiatives.

Kibera, an academic with extensive experience in policy and governance, is expected to inject new vision, while Abass is anticipated to leverage his political and grassroots experience to broaden the fund’s outreach.

NFDK supports over 900,000 Kenyans living with disabilities, according to the 2019 Census.

In the maritime sector, Ruto appointed Lung’azi Chai Mangale as the non-executive Chairperson of the Board of the Bandari Maritime Academy, also for a three-year term.

The institution, established in 2018, plays a vital role in training professionals for Kenya’s blue economy and maritime industry.

Additionally, Paul Mbatha was appointed Chairperson of the Board of the President’s Award, an initiative under Cap. 216C that focuses on youth empowerment, leadership development, and community service.

His appointment is expected to boost youth engagement in line with the administration’s broader vision of nurturing future leaders.

The sweeping appointments highlight President Ruto’s ongoing efforts to align state-backed institutions with his administration’s priorities.

President William Ruto signing an MoU in Cairo Egypt on Wednesday, January 29, 2025. PCS