James Kipsiele Tembur has been appointed as the Director General of the National Youth Service (NYS), according to a gazette notice dated December 19, 2023. Kipsiele’s term will span three years, starting on December 20, 2023.
“In exercise of the powers conferred by Section 16(1) of the National Youth Service Act, 1, William Samoei Ruto, President of the Republic of Kenya and Commander-in-Chief of the Defense Forces, appoints James Kipsiele Tembur to be the Director-General of the National Youth Service for three (3) years, with effect from December 20, 2023,” reads the gazette notice.
Mr. Tembur was among the five candidates shortlisted for the position on December 4, 2023. The other four candidates who were eyeing the positions are Njiri Nelson Mugweru, Anjere Alfred Tom, Nakitari Humphrey Okuku, and Mbaruku Moses Njeru.
Kipsiele has been serving in an acting capacity after taking over from Matilda Sakwa, whose tenure ended in April 2023. Ms. Sakwa has since been appointed as the Chief Executive Officer of Pyrethrum Processing Company of Kenya.
In her farewell speech, Matilda expressed gratitude to God and fellow officials from NYS. She also stated that she was leaving a legacy after serving as the first female service commander.
“May I especially thank the acting Director General, Mr. James Tembur, from the bottom of my heart? When I joined the service, you were acting as the Director General. Naturally, one would have expected you to undermine me. On the contrary, you gave me all the support I needed,” she said.
