Charles Nyachae Reappointed as KSG Chair After IEBC Chair Bid Falls Through
President William Ruto has re-appointed Charles Nyachae to serve another three-year term as Chairperson of the Kenya School of Government (KSG), shortly after Nyachae’s bid to become IEBC Chair ended in rejection. The appointment, announced via gazette notice, sparked conversations on political recycling, public vetting, and constitutional interpretation.
Background
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Nyachae's Previous Term as KSG Chair: July 2019 – July 2025
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New Term Start: Immediately from July 12, 2025
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Appointment Authority: Kenya School of Government Act
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Gazette Notice: Issued by President William Ruto
Nyachae was among the final shortlisted candidates for IEBC Chairperson, but Erastus Ethekon was selected and sworn in instead.
Legal Cloud: A Petition That Raised Eyebrows
During the IEBC selection process:
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A petition was filed to block Nyachae and fellow candidate Joy Midivo from being interviewed.
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The argument: Both were still serving as state officers, making them constitutionally ineligible.
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Nyachae’s role at KSG was cited as a conflict of interest.
Though the court did not halt the process, the constitutional question remains unresolved.
KBN Context: Public Service Reappointments Under Ruto
This isn’t an isolated case. Several other appointments were made alongside Nyachae’s:
| Appointee | Role | Previous Role |
|---|---|---|
| Abdi Mude Ibrahim | Chair, Kenya Veterinary Vaccines Production Institute | Former Lafey MP (2017–2022) |
| Ali Noor Ismail | Chair, Pest Control Products Board | PS – Cooperatives, Labour, Environment (2016–2019) |
These names point to a pattern of familiar faces re-entering public service—a hallmark of what critics call “political recycling”.
Kenya by Numbers
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Public Chairs Appointed by Ruto in 2024–2025 | 78+ |
| Former MPs/PSs in key appointments | 34% |
| Petitions filed against state reappointments | 11+ |
| Cases involving IEBC appointment disputes | 5 since 2022 |
What It Means
Pros:
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Continuity of leadership at KSG
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Experience in public service and governance
Cons:
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Raises concerns over conflict of interest
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Weakens public confidence in merit-based appointments
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Highlights the grey zone between political loyalty and technocratic integrity
KBN Verdict
Nyachae’s reappointment, while legal under the Act, comes amid questions around the blurring lines between public service and political positioning. His failure to clinch the IEBC chair shows the limits of loyalty in high-stakes roles, while his return to KSG reveals how tight-knit the state appointment circle remains.
For a government that promised new blood, the cabinet and boards look more like rotations, not reinventions.
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