•Kinyua appreciated former presidents as well as Ruto for allowing him to serve under their leadership.
•The 70-year-old started his career as an assistant lecturer at the University of Nairobi in 1978.
Image: FILE
After 44 years of service in government, Joseph Kinyua on Thursday handed over the mantle of Head of Public Service to Felix Kosgei.
"Joseph Kinyua has made this transition seamless and I want to congratulate him, he has worked with me to make sure Kenya gives an example of what a transition looks like," President William Ruto said.
The 70-year-old started his career as an assistant lecturer at the University of Nairobi in 1978.
Two years later as an economist, he joined the Central Bank of Kenya and later ended up attaining the position of director of research.
From 1985 to 1990, he served as an economist at the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and returned to CBK.
Between January 2003 and 2013, Kinyua served as the Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Planning and National Development and was the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Finance.
As one of Kenya’s oldest civil servants, he was appointed as Head of Public Service when retired President Uhuru Kenyatta ascended to power in 2013.
He has also held positions on a number of state corporation boards.
Kinyua also serves as an Alternate Governor on the Board of Governors of the World Bank and on the Programme Committee of the African Economic Research Consortium (AERC).
In 2020, he was tasked by the government with Chairing the Inter-ministerial Committee making arrangements for the State Funeral of the late former President Daniel Moi.
In his final address as the office holder on Thursday, Kinyua said that it has been a humbling journey.
He appreciated former presidents as well as Ruto for allowing him to serve under their leadership.
"Your Excellency sir, I hand over the mantle of coordinating the public service to a new generation of civil servants. I thank you and your predecessors for according me the privilege to serve in four successive administrations, notably the second, third, fourth and in your administration,"Kinyua said.