State House has on Friday, July 19, 2024, released profiles of the first batch of the five new cabinet nominees.
According to the document shared on X by the State House Spokesperson Hussein Mohamed, the new nominees have qualifications in their respective fields.
Here is the profile of the nominees as shared by the State House.
1. Debra Barasa – Ministry of Health
DR. Debra Mlongo Barasa is a Medical Doctor specialising in Internal Medicine and Infectious Diseases with over 15 years of experience.
Over 15 years of field experience as a senior medical officer with progression to an Internal Medicine Physician and technical advisor having worked in health institutions both national, referral, private and Community Based Organisations.
She co-led the infectious disease pillar addressing outbreak-prone infections such as Respiratory infections (COVID-19, diphtheria), viral haemorrhagic fevers (Ebola, SVD), and contagious diarrhoea (cholera) among others.
Education
Dr Barasa has a Master of Medicine Internal Medicine from the University of Nairobi and a Bachelor of Medicine and Surgery (MBChB) from the University of Nairobi.
Currently, she is doing her MSC in infectious diseases from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine.
Experience
She has worked as an internal medicine consultant physician at CHANF, an infectious diseases consultant at the World Health Organisation and an internal medicine physician at the Mater Hospital.
2. Magaret Ndung’u – Ministry of information, communication and digital technology
Dr Margaret Nyambura Ndung’u is a PhD holder and a renowned expert in internet governance.
Her expertise includes internet infrastructure, al, machine learning, cybersecurity, and data governance. She contributed to the African Union’s digital transformation strategy and sectoral strategies for education, health, and agriculture.
Dr Ndung’u also played a key role in developing and implementing the African Union data policy framework.
She coordinated a six-module online internet governance curriculum used by 30 national and regional schools across Africa and developed a 10-module course for the Pan African University Institute, tailoring it to the e-skills of participants.
Education
Margaret has a Post-doctorate in fellowship (focused on innovation value chain), from Tshwane University of Technology, Pretoria, South Africa, a PhD – in information systems from the University of Nairobi, Kenya, a degree in Management Science from the University of Nairobi, Kenya and a degree in information science from Moi University.
Experience
Dr Margaret has worked as a Senior research manager, at Global Digital Inclusion Partnership), Co-investigator – of a cybersecurity mentorship kit, Gender justice in stem research in Africa (gejusta), Senior regulatory and internet governance expert, Seconded to the African Union Commission in an EU-funded project. and a Consultant in the ICT authority and the Ministry of Education.
3. Andrew Karanja – Ministry of agriculture and livestock development
Dr. Andrew Mwihia Karanja, PhD holder has over 36 years of experience in the public sector both locally and internationally in the fields of development economics, rural development and finance, agriculture and livestock development, and project formulation, management and evaluation.
He started his career as an extension officer at the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development. He also worked as a Planning Officer in the same ministry.
Later he joined the Coffee Research Foundation (CRF) as a Research Officer/Agricultural Economist where he rose to Senior Agricultural Economist and Head of the Economics Department.
Dr. Karanja joined the World Bank in 2003, as an Agricultural Economist.
Education
He has a Ph.D. Development Economics and Policy Wageningen University, Netherlands, a Masters in agricultural economics University of Nairobi and a degree in agriculture from the University of Nairobi.
Experience
He has worked as a lead economist state Department of Livestock, lead consultant/assessment of public financing for farmer-led irrigation development,
Dr Karanja has worked at the State Department of Livestock as a senior Agricultural Economist & task team leader, World Bank-Nairobi Research Fellow at Egerton University and Tegemeo Institute.
4. Mugaa Eric – Ministry of water, sanitation and irrigation
Mugaa Murithi Eric is a civil engineer and a water resource enthusiast with over 8 years of experience with hands-on experience in operations and management of engineering projects, water hydraulic modelling, design of water and wastewater networks water treatment plants and other water structures.
Education
Eric has a Master’s degree in civil engineering (water resources) from the University of Nairobi, and a bachelor’s degree in civil and construction engineering [first class honours] from the University of Nairobi.
Experience
He has worked as an assistant project engineer on a water and sanitation development project (WSDP). assistant project engineer Kimawasco and a design engineer for Kenya Town’s sustainable water and supply sanitation program.
5. Julias Ogamba – Ministry of Education
Julius Migos Ogamba-e.b.s is a passionate, visionary and accomplished legal professional with over 25 years of experience in legal practice; counselling clients, performing legal research, preparing legal documents and representing clients in criminal and civil court proceedings.
Driven and detail-oriented senior advocate with a proven track record of leading teams, forging long-lasting client relationships and influencing organizational productivity by ensuring compliance with legal and regulatory requirements.
Education
Ogamba has a Post graduate diploma in law from the Kenya School of Law and a Bachelor of Law (ll.b.) from the University of Nairobi
Experience
He is a Senior Partner in Migos- ogamba & waudo advocates and a Chairman of the Kenya Electricity generating company.