Dr. (Eng.) John Mativo has been appointed as the Kenya Electricity Transmission Company (KETRACO) Ltd Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer on a contract term of three years.
Announcing the appointment, the Chairman of the Board of Directors for the company, Abdi Bare Duale said the appointment that takes effect from April 24, 2023 was renewable once, subject to performance and retirement age for Public Officers.
Dr. Mativo was appointed by the Cabinet Secretary, Ministry of Energy and Petroleum following a successful and competitive recruitment process concluded by the Board of Directors.
The recruitment process attracted 194 applicants and after a thorough vetting and selection process, only eight candidates were interviewed by the Board of Directors.
The position of Managing Director and CEO at the organization had remained vacant since 1st, February, 2022, when the then Managing Director/ CEO Fernandes Barasa resigned to pursue politics.
Eng. (CPA) Antony Wamukota then steered the Company’s operations as Managing
Director and CEO in an acting capacity from February 2022 to January 2023, when Eng. Isaac Kiva, took over the mantle from January 27, 2023.
Eng. Isaac Kiva, the Secretary Renewable Energy at the Ministry of Energy and Petroleum and was seconded to KETRACO to oversee the recruitment process of the Managing Director and CEO.
Eng. Kiva who is accredited for having streamlined the Company’s operations and strengthened teamwork during his short stint in the Company, reverts to his substantive position at the Ministry.
Dr Mativo is expected to bring on board sufficient skills in leadership and management of resources, having served the Company in various capacities since 2010.
According to KETRACO, the newly appointed Managing Director has a wealth of experience and institutional historical information, which is much needed to support the required leadership in designing suitable plans and strategies that will contribute to high and sustainable socioeconomic development to the Country’s economy.
“He takes over the Company’s leadership at the height of reforms in the Energy Sector geared towards reducing the cost of power,” said the statement.
It further stated that the newly appointed Managing Director will also oversee the formulation and implementation of the Company’s Fourth Strategic Plan 2023/28, Operationalization of the System Operator Mandate under the Energy Act 2019 and implementation of the Company’s first PPP Transmission Projects.
Dr. Mativo, who has over 25 years of experience in both the public and private sector, holds a Doctorate degree in Civil Engineering from Tokyo Metropolitan University
(Japan), a Master’s degree in Structural Engineering from Tongji University (China), and a Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering from the University of Nairobi.
Prior to joining KETRACO, Eng. Mativo worked with H.P. Gauff Consulting Engineer, Ministry of Roads and Public Works and later as a Consultant for European Union –funded projects in the Local Government.
Kenya Electricity Transmission Company (KETRACO) Ltd is a State Agency mandated with the role of planning, designing, constructing, operating and maintaining the Country’s high voltage electricity grid and regional power interconnectors.
By Bernadette Khaduli
