Ruto appoints ex-Eldoret East MP Joseph Lagat as non-executive KWS board chair
By Faith Lagat, February 8, 2026President William Ruto has appointed former Eldoret East Member of Parliament Joseph Kipchumba Lagat as the Non-Executive Chairperson of the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) Board for a three-year term, effective February 6, 2026.
The appointment was published in Gazette Notice No. 1436 dated February 5, 2026. The notice outlines the president’s authority under the Wildlife Conservation and Management Act, 2013.
“IN EXERCISE of the powers conferred by section 8 (2) (a) of the Wildlife Conservation and Management Act, 2013, I, William Samoei Ruto, President of the Republic of Kenya and Commander-in-Chief of the Defence Forces, appoint, JOSEPH LAGAT to be the Non-Executive Chairperson of the Kenya Wildlife Service Board.”
According to the gazette notice, Lagat’s tenure as Non-Executive Chairperson of the KWS Board will span three years, commencing on February 6, 2026.
Leadership experience and role
Lagat previously served as the Member of Parliament for Eldoret East and is the immediate former Chairperson of the National Mining Corporation.
He brings prior experience in public administration and governance to the KWS Board, which oversees wildlife conservation, protection, and management across the country.
The appointment comes at a time when KWS continues to implement conservation programs, manage protected areas, and address human-wildlife conflict in various regions.
Lagat’s appointment forms part of a broader set of changes announced by President Ruto affecting leadership positions across state corporations and government agencies.
Other appointments gazetted
In the same gazette notice, President Ruto appointed several individuals to chair positions in other state institutions. Lt. Gen. (Rtd.) Walter Raria Koipaton was appointed Non-Executive Chairperson of the Kenya Forestry Research Institute Board.
Advocate George Kithi was named Chairperson of the Sports and Arts Fund Board, while Maj. Gen. Alphazard Muthuri Kiugu was appointed Chairperson of the Anti-Doping Agency.
Mahmud Jan Mohamed was appointed Non-Executive Chairperson of Kenya Utalii College, Rina Chatrath as Non-Executive Chairperson of the Nairobi Centre for International Arbitration Board, and Patrick Mukundi Mbogo as Chairperson of the Warehouse Receipt System Council. All presidential appointments are for three-year terms effective February 6, 2026.
Cabinet Secretaries also gazetted several appointments. Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen appointed Ibrahim Mugetha Ndung’u as a member of the Firearms Licensing Board and reappointed Yakub Rashid Abdullahi as its Non-Executive Chairperson.
Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi reappointed Anne Rimbaine Lengerded and Joseph Kipkemboi Ngetich to the Kenya Deposit Insurance Corporation Board and James Agembe Akali to the Nairobi International Financial Centre Authority Board.
Other appointments were made by Cabinet Secretaries Wycliffe Oparanya, Julius Ogamba, Aden Duale, and Rebecca Miano across various boards, councils, universities, and training institutions.