Ruto Re-appoints Former Senate Speaker Ekwee Ethuro as HELB Chair
Former Senate Speaker Ekwee Ethuro has been reappointed as the Chairperson of the Higher Education Loans Board (HELB) by President William Ruto.
In a Gazette Notice published on Friday, Ruto appointed Ethuro to a five-year term beginning on September 19, 2023.
Ethuro was the first Senate speaker following the 2010 Constitution’s first election. He was a member of the URP party, which merged with TNA to form the Jubilee Alliance and was a close ally of Ruto.
“William Samoei Ruto, President of the Republic of Kenya and Commander-in-Chief of the Defence Forces re-appoints Ekwee Ethuro to be the Chairperson of the Higher Education Loans Board, for five (5) years, with effect from the 19th September, 2023,” the Gazette Notice read in part.
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In 2018, one year after losing his candidacy for governor of Turkana, former President Uhuru Kenyatta first appointed Ethuro.
Ethuro held prominent positions in the private sector and non-profit organizations before entering politics.
As HELB’s Chair, Ethuro is responsible for providing leadership and direction to the Board in order to fulfill its statutory obligations.
Section 4 (1)(a) of the Higher Education Loans Board Act grants Ethuro the authority to preside over all board meetings and ensure that Board business is conducted in a fair and efficient manner.
He is also anticipated to advise and assist the CEO and other Board members.
The Higher Education Loans Board is currently collaborating with other organizations to implement the new University Funding model.
Students and universities are anticipated to benefit from the new University Funding paradigm.
HELB noted that the new model, which is still in its early stages of implementation, has the potential to alter the manner in which higher education is funded in Kenya.
Ruto Re-appoints Former Senate Speaker Ekwee Ethuro as HELB Chair