President William Ruto has executed a decisive surgical strike on the leadership of the Kenya Trade Network Agency (KenTrade), revoking the appointment of former Taveta MP Basil Criticos as Chairperson in a move that ripples through the country’s logistics sector.

The changes, contained in a Gazette Notice dated December 5, 2025, come as the administration intensifies its focus on the efficiency of Kenya’s supply chains—a critical artery for an economy battling to keep the cost of living manageable.

The Axe Falls at KenTrade

In a terse directive, the Head of State exercised his powers under the State Corporations Act to rescind Criticos’ tenure, which had been viewed by many as a reward for political loyalty. The purge did not stop at the top; board members Paul Mwiti Mucheke and Abubakar Ketemon were also sent packing effective immediately.

For the ordinary Kenyan, KenTrade might sound like bureaucratic alphabet soup, but its mandate hits close to home. The agency manages the National Electronic Single Window System, the digital brain that clears cargo at the Port of Mombasa and Jomo Kenyatta International Airport. When this system lags, demurrage charges pile up, and the extra cost is passed down to the price of unga, fuel, and electronics on the shelves.

New Guard, New Mandate

As the President cleared the deck, Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi moved swiftly to plug the gaps, injecting fresh blood into the agency. Mbadi appointed Suleiman Issack Ali and Gerald Okoko to the KenTrade board, with their three-year terms set to run through late 2026.

These appointments signal a potential shift from purely political patronage to a more technocratic approach within the trade docket. The new team faces the immediate task of streamlining cross-border trade protocols to ensure Kenya remains competitive against neighbors like Tanzania.

Beyond Trade: Tourism and Pensions

The reshuffle extended beyond the trade sector. In a nod to continuity in the tourism industry, President Ruto reappointed David Wamtsi Omusotsi as the Non-Executive Chairperson of the Kenya Utalii College Council. Omusotsi, who has steered the premier hospitality training institution, secured another three-year term.

Meanwhile, the Treasury CS also reorganized the Asian Officers’ Family Pension Board—a niche but statutory body—appointing Lawrence Kibet as Chairperson. He will be joined by a new team including:

• Michael Kagika
• Dinah Mboje
• Francis Amuyunzu
• Vivian Chebii

These administrative adjustments, while less headline-grabbing, are crucial for the smooth operation of public service pension schemes, ensuring that state obligations to retirees are met without friction.

The Bigger Picture

This latest wave of revocations and appointments underscores a restless administration keen on recalibrating its delivery vehicles as it crosses the mid-term mark. With the 2027 horizon slowly coming into view, analysts argue that the President is less tolerant of inertia in agencies that directly impact the Bottom-Up economic agenda.

"The message is clear," a senior policy analyst in Nairobi noted. "Three-year terms are standard, but tenure is now strictly tied to performance. If the port doesn't move, neither do you."