President William Ruto has appointed former Cabinet minister and Embu Senator Peter Njeru Ndwiga as non-executive chairperson of the Coffee Board of Kenya, in a new wave of appointments to state agencies published in Kenya Gazette notices dated October 30, 2026.

Ndwiga, who served as Co-operative Development minister and later chaired the Senate Agriculture Committee, will serve for three years. He replaces Henry Gichuhi Kinyua, who had been named to the post in early September. Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe has now appointed Kinyua chairperson of the Council of the Coffee Research and Training Institute of Kenya.

The President also picked Ali Wario to chair the Kenya National Council for Population and Development for three years.

Cabinet Secretaries fill boards

Several Cabinet Secretaries made their own appointments in the same batch, according to The Star:

  • Treasury CS John Mbadi named Peter Kagia chairperson of the Insurance Institute of Kenya Council, alongside seven members, and appointed five members to the population council
  • Gender CS Hanna Cheptumo renewed the terms of National Heroes Council chair Jimmy Nuru Ondieki Angwenyi and member David Lebarleyia
  • Health CS Aden Duale renewed the terms of Dr Erneo Nyakiba and Judith Jerotich on the Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital board
  • Education CS Julius Ogamba appointed Gideon Kamau Maina to the KUCCPS board and five members to the Kerio Valley University College Council
  • CS Beatrice Askul Moe extended the terms of Noah Lokamar and Jeremiah Sang at the Kerio Valley Development Authority by one year from November 2

Schools unrest team

Ogamba also added three members to the multi-stakeholder task team on unrest in schools, Abdirashid Mohamed Hussein, David Muchunguh and Prof Joseph Githui Kabiru, and named four joint secretaries. The changes come as more than a million candidates prepare to start KCSE written papers on Monday, a period when school unrest is closely watched.

Political timing

The appointments are the latest in a steady stream of state jobs handed out as the 2027 election draws closer. Ndwiga's return is notable in Embu, part of the vote-rich Mt Kenya East region, where Ruto and Deputy President Kithure Kindiki are battling Rigathi Gachagua's opposition for support. Coffee, a key cash crop for farmers in the region, has been at the centre of the government's reform push, including a new Coffee Act passed this year.

Photos: The Star; Kihara wa kigo via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0). Thumbnail design: HAMASTA MEDIA.