Joseph Kinyua yesterday handed over the mantle of Head of Public Service to Felix Koskei, bringing to an end one of the most illustrious careers in public service.

In his short speech after he ushered in his successor, Kinyua termed his 44 years of service as profound.

“I thank you and your predecessors for according me the privilege to serve in four successive administrations and in yours as well. It has been a profound honor and a humbling journey. I’m immensely grateful to be accorded the rare opportunity to serve Kenyans and the great men chosen to be President.”

Kinyua was appointed by President Uhuru Kenyatta in 2013, becoming one of the oldest public servants.

Workaholic

The 70-year-old was a trusted ally of Uhuru who took him from Principle Secretary at the National Treasury to State House.

Kinyua has been described by peers as a workaholic who eschews corruption and avoids wasting State resources. While at Treasury, he is said to have reported to work at 4:00 am.

Kinyua’s career began in 1978 as an assistant lecturer at the University of Nairobi.

He began working at the Central Bank of Kenya as an economist in 1980 and eventually attained the position of director of research.

Before returning to the Central Bank of Kenya, he served as an economist at the International Monetary Fund (IMF) from 1985 to 1990.

World Bank

From January 2003 until his appointment as Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Planning and National Development in January 2003, Kinyua was the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Finance.

He has held positions on a number of state corporation boards. He serves as an Alternate Governor on the Board of Governors of the World Bank and on the Programme Committee of the African Economic Research Consortium (AERC).

He forbade state employees from serving as independent directors on the boards of parastatals in 2020 as part of austerity measures to cut costs.

In 2020, Kinyua was tasked with chairing the inter-ministerial Committee making arrangements for the State funeral of former President Daniel arap Moi.

He also chaired the transition committee from Kenyatta to Ruto administration.

During the swearing-in of his cabinet, Ruto thanked Kinyua for facilitating a seamless transition.