Ruto Appoints Eliud Owalo to Oversee Government Project Delivery in New Role
Eliud Owalo, the former ICT Cabinet Secretary, has made a significant comeback in President William Ruto’s administration, securing a strategic and powerful position as the new Deputy Chief of Staff and Delivery Management.
This appointment, made on August 23, 2024, places Owalo at the helm of two critical units within the Executive Office of the President: the Public Service Performance Management Unit (PSPMU) and the Government Delivery Unit (GDU).
In his new role, Owalo will oversee the performance contracting and assessment system for all Cabinet Secretaries (CSs) and senior members of the Executive, ensuring that the Kenya Kwanza government’s projects are implemented efficiently.
This position, which gives him considerable influence over government operations, comes as Owalo seeks to chart his own independent political path ahead of the 2027 elections.
The appointment was formally communicated in an official statement dated September 3, 2024, by Felix Koskei, Chief of Staff and Head of the Public Service. Koskei’s letter, addressed to Cabinet Secretaries, Principal Secretaries, the Attorney General, and Chief Executive Officers of State Corporations and statutory bodies, emphasized the importance of cooperation with Owalo as he takes on his new responsibilities.
“It will be Owalo’s responsibility to create and put into place a system for performance contracting and assessment that will apply to all CSs and other senior members of the Executive,” Koskei stated.
Owalo officially began his duties on September 4, 2024, when he accompanied Koskei to a monthly meeting with Principal Secretaries. The meeting was focused on reviewing the implementation of priority government programs and identifying necessary interventions to enhance performance and expedite service delivery.
This new role adds Owalo to the growing list of powerful figures within the Executive Office of the President, joining Josephat Nanok, who has held the position of Deputy Chief of Staff since 2022.
While Nanok chairs weekly meetings with advisory teams and forwards their outcomes to the Head of Public Service, Owalo will be primarily focused on ensuring the delivery of government projects—a critical task as the Kenya Kwanza government continues to face criticism over stalled and incomplete projects.
With this appointment, Owalo’s influence within the government is set to increase, placing him in a pivotal position as the country approaches the next election cycle.
This move further consolidates the power within the Executive Office of the President, which also includes key positions such as the Chief of Staff and Head of Public Service, the President’s Council of Economic Advisors, the Secretary to the Cabinet, and the State House Comptroller.
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Ruto Appoints Eliud Owalo to Oversee Government Project Delivery in New Role
