Elizabeth Adongo: My work is to get the job done

Elizabeth Adongo, the Senior Advisor to the cabinet secretary of the Ministry of Public Service in an interview at her home in Nairobi on June 6, 2022. [Esther Jeruto, Standard]

Elizabeth Adongo greets us with infectious energy as soon as she sees us as if we were old friends that she is happy to see again. Over a cup of tea at her home, she engages us in lively banter. As vivacious as she is, once we begin the interview, it is serious business.

That kind of personality works very well for the role that she plays in her career. She is currently the senior policy advisor to Public Service, Youth and Gender Cabinet Secretary (CS), Professor Margaret Kobia. It is her third stint as an advisor to a CS, the first being to Governor Ann Waiguru and Water CS, Sicily Kariuki. That was after a successful run in Tony Blair’s government.