Another Uhuru-era CS picked as Ruto’s advisor

By Joshua Khisa

President William Ruto has appointed yet another Cabinet Secretary who served under his predecessor Uhuru Kenyatta to be among his advisers.

The latest former CS to make it back to government is Amb. Phyllis Kandie.

Kandie served as the Cabinet Secretary for East African Affairs and Labor during President Uhuru’s first term.

She was however dropped from the cabinet and later named Ambassador to Belgium, Luxembourg and the European Union in 2018.

According to a post on her social media pages, Amb. Kandie is now back to being close to power.

She revealed on Tuesday that Ruto had appointed her as an adviser on Commodities Market Development.

She pledged to serve diligently in the new role and ensure the Agriculture sector is streamlined.

“I would like to thank HE the President for the honour he has bestowed on me to serve as his advisor, Commodities Market Development,” Amb. Kandie said in part of the post on X.

“I undertake to work diligently with all stakeholders to ensure that his vision to streamline the Agriculture sector by setting up a licensed, Regulated private sector led National Commodities Exchange that shall link the Farmer to both the domestic and international markets becomes a reality,” she added.

Phyllis Kandie who has a Bachelor of Commerce degree, majoring in Economics as a major, served as the Director of investment advisory services at Standard Investment Bank, prior to her appointment to cabinet.

She also served as a regulator within the Capital Markets, energy and agricultural sectors and a consultant for the World Bank and the European Union, regarding the SME sector.

The appointment comes just days after another former CS for Energy Charles Keter was appointed an advisor on Great Lakes Region Affairs.

Keter sat in the retired President Uhuru Kentatta’s cabinet for the entire two terms.

He resigned in February 2022 to vie for the Kericho gubernatorial seat but lost during UDA nominations to the current Governor Dr. Eric Mutai.

When revealing the new role, Keter said, “With humility, I wish to express my gratitude to H.E the President, Dr. @WilliamsRuto for appointing me as his Advisor on Great Lakes Region Affairs. I am deeply honoured and grateful for the trust and confidence that he has placed in me by appointing me to this role.”

“I am genuinely excited about the opportunity to contribute to the development, prosperity, and stability of the Great Lakes Region under his visionary leadership,” he added.