President William Ruto retains Faisal Abass as Privatisation Commission Chair
Faisal Abass has been re-appointed as the non-executive Chairperson of the Privatisation Commission for another three-year term, in a move that reflects the government’s intention to maintain leadership consistency at the agency responsible for managing Kenya’s privatisation programme.
President William Ruto made the announcement through a gazette notice dated July 18, 2025, invoking powers granted under section 5(1)(a) of the Privatisation Act.
“In exercise of the powers conferred by section 5 (1) (a) of the Privatisation Act, I, William Samoei Ruto, President of the Republic of Kenya and Commander-in-Chief of the Defence Forces, reappoint— Faisal Abass to be the non-executive Chairperson of the Privatisation Commission, for a period of three (3) years, with effect from the 18th July, 2025,” the gazette read.
Established under the Privatisation Act of 2005, the Commission operates as a corporate body mandated to develop, oversee, and implement privatisation plans aimed at improving the efficiency and performance of government-owned enterprises.
Known for his extensive experience in both public and private sectors, Faisal brings to the table over twenty years of service in leadership roles across key state institutions.
His academic background includes a bachelor's degree in economics from the American University in Cairo and a master’s in strategic management from the University of Nairobi (UoN).
Over the years, he has served on the boards of several strategic state corporations, including the Kenya Electricity Generating Company (KenGen), Geothermal Development Company (GDC), and the Rural Electrification and Renewable Energy Corporation (REREC).
His previous role as Chair of the Policyholders Compensation Fund (PCF) saw him spearhead major governance reforms in the insurance compensation space.
Among his most notable contributions is his involvement in the listing of KenGen on the Nairobi Securities Exchange (NSE), a milestone that highlighted his focus on steering state corporations towards transparent and market-driven operations.
Faisal was first appointed Chair of the Privatisation Commission in July 2022 by former President Uhuru Kenyatta. His reappointment by President Ruto comes after the commission transitions into the Privatisation Authority, marking a period of transformation within the institution.
His continued leadership is expected to provide stability and strategic direction as the Authority deepens efforts to reform underperforming state-owned enterprises and attract private investment through well-structured divestiture programmes.
President William Ruto made the announcement through a gazette notice dated July 18, 2025, invoking powers granted under section 5(1)(a) of the Privatisation Act.
“In exercise of the powers conferred by section 5 (1) (a) of the Privatisation Act, I, William Samoei Ruto, President of the Republic of Kenya and Commander-in-Chief of the Defence Forces, reappoint— Faisal Abass to be the non-executive Chairperson of the Privatisation Commission, for a period of three (3) years, with effect from the 18th July, 2025,” the gazette read.
Established under the Privatisation Act of 2005, the Commission operates as a corporate body mandated to develop, oversee, and implement privatisation plans aimed at improving the efficiency and performance of government-owned enterprises.
Known for his extensive experience in both public and private sectors, Faisal brings to the table over twenty years of service in leadership roles across key state institutions.
His academic background includes a bachelor's degree in economics from the American University in Cairo and a master’s in strategic management from the University of Nairobi (UoN).
Over the years, he has served on the boards of several strategic state corporations, including the Kenya Electricity Generating Company (KenGen), Geothermal Development Company (GDC), and the Rural Electrification and Renewable Energy Corporation (REREC).
His previous role as Chair of the Policyholders Compensation Fund (PCF) saw him spearhead major governance reforms in the insurance compensation space.
Among his most notable contributions is his involvement in the listing of KenGen on the Nairobi Securities Exchange (NSE), a milestone that highlighted his focus on steering state corporations towards transparent and market-driven operations.
Faisal was first appointed Chair of the Privatisation Commission in July 2022 by former President Uhuru Kenyatta. His reappointment by President Ruto comes after the commission transitions into the Privatisation Authority, marking a period of transformation within the institution.
His continued leadership is expected to provide stability and strategic direction as the Authority deepens efforts to reform underperforming state-owned enterprises and attract private investment through well-structured divestiture programmes.
REREC
Privatisation Act
Privatisation Commission
Privatisation Review Board
Faisal Abass
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