Jacinta Mbithi appointed acting MD Kenya Tourism Board

NAIROBI, KENYA: The Cabinet Secretary for Tourism, Najib Balala has today appointed Ms. Jacinta Nzioka Mbithi as the Acting Managing Director, Kenya Tourism Board (KTB). The out-going Managing Director, Mr. Muriithi Ndegwa has been at the helm of KTB for slightly over six years and has served two full terms.

While making the appointment, the Cabinet Secretary assured the tourism sector players of the commitment of his ministry to support all the institutions that are part of the implementation processes for a successful recovery of the sector. “We will fast track all the administrative and policy issues that we have at hand to enable us strengthen the performance of all the institutions that are under our ministry,’ said Balala.

Balala thanked Ndegwa for the diligent service he has offered the Government during his two term period in office.

He said Nzioka-Mbithi will remain in the acting position until a competitive recruitment exercise is completed by the Board.

As part of the strategic policy direction of the Ministry, the Cabinet Secretary has announced that all the CEOs of the agencies within the ministry who have served their two terms to prepare for smooth hand-overs to a senior manager who will manage the entities as the Boards prepare to recruit competitively.

The Cabinet Secretary emphasised that a true transformation of the tourism sector can only be achieved through change and not business as usual.

He noted that the ministry will be the guiding organ that gives financial, moral and technical support to allow its agencies carry out their mandates effectively and efficiently adding that all the boards of the agencies are now in place and the remaining Chairmen will be appointed soon.

The Cabinet Secretary said the Ministry will provide an opportunity for the boards to carry out a transparent process that will see the recruitment of new CEOs in a free and fair competitive process.

He encouraged qualified Kenyans who believe they are innovative marketers to apply for the position of MD, Kenya Tourism Board alongside other government agencies in his ministry that have fallen or will be falling vacant soon.

Balala was re-appointed by the President as the Minister for Tourism late last year. He has since initiated a number of programs that are aimed at supporting the sector to full recovery. Some of these include the government funded Charter Incentive Programme, the reduction of park fees and waiver of Visa fees for children aged below 16.

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