Chief of Staff and Head of the Public Service./FILE
Head of Public Service Felix Koskei has extended the contract of Ewaso Ng’iro North Development Authority (ENNDA) Managing Director Eng. Ali Ibrahim Hassan.
In extending the contract, Koskei cited exemplary performance, in a move that overrides an earlier decision by the State Department for ASALs and Regional Development.
Koskei rescinded Principal Secretary Kello Harsama’s directive that had declined the request for extension and instructed the ENNDA board to identify three candidates for appointment as acting MD.
Instead, Koskei upheld the board’s resolution to retain Eng. Ali for one more year after his two-term contract expires on October 1, 2025.
“The exemplary performance of Eng. Ali is acknowledged by the Board under the supervision of the State Corporations Advisory Committee for financial year 2022/23 and 2023/24 at 96.93%,” Koskei said in a letter to Harsama dated August 26, 2025.
He added: “In view of the foregoing, and taking cognizance of the fact that ENNDA remains a going concern until formally wound up, a first and final extension of the tenure of Eng. Ali is hereby granted for a period of one (1) year, ending on 30th September 2026. This extension is intended to enable Eng. Ali to guide the authority through the planned reforms while ensuring organizational stability.”
The letter was also copied to Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi and East Africa Community Affairs and ASALs & Regional Development CS Beatrice Askul.
Koskei’s decision contrasts with his own circular of May 16, 2025, which froze recruitment, contract renewals, and extensions for officers working in 16 state corporations earmarked for merger under a Cabinet resolution. ENNDA is among those agencies.
In that circular, Koskei had directed:
1. A moratorium on recruitment and renewal of contracts for CEOs and other contract-based officers upon expiry of their terms.
2. Suspension of all ongoing recruitment processes across staff cadres.
2. Suspension of approvals related to human resource policies, salaries, benefits, staff organization, and rollout of new capital projects.
The directive was issued to all Principal Secretaries, chairs, and CEOs of state corporations, with copies sent to the attorney general and all cabinet secretaries.
Koskei’s latest move effectively grants Eng. Ali a reprieve, allowing him to steer ENNDA through the transition period even as the government pushes ahead with planned reforms in the parastatal sector.
