President William Ruto has appointed retired Major General William Karisa Shume as the Non-Executive Chairperson of the Advisory Committee on Military Veterans for a four-year term.
The head of State also appointed Cecilia Mbaka as the Non-Executive Chairperson of the National Board for Social Protection for three years, with both appointments taking effect from August 28, 2026.
The appointments were announced through Gazette Notices dated August 28, 2026, with Shume's appointment made under the Military Veterans Act.
“MAJ. GEN. (RTD) WILLIAM KARISA SHUME” was appointed “to be the Non-Executive Chairperson of the Advisory Committee on Military Veterans, for a period of four (4) years”, according to Gazette Notice No. 13774.
Shume succeeds retired Major General Lucas Kyonze Tumbo, whose term as chairperson came to an end.
In his new position, Shume will preside over meetings and deliberations of the Advisory Committee, which plays a role in formulating and vetting recommendations before they are submitted to the Ministry of Defence and the Defence Council.
The chairperson is also expected to advise the Defence Council and the Cabinet Secretary for Defence on national policies concerning military veterans and their dependants.
The appointment comes as the government continues to focus on the welfare of former members of the armed forces and their families.
In a separate Gazette Notice No. 13775, President Ruto appointed Cecilia Mbaka as the Non-Executive Chairperson of the National Board for Social Protection for a three-year term.
Mbaka's appointment was made under section 10(a) of the Social Protection Act, 2025.
The notice states that Ruto appointed “CECILIA MBAKA to be the Non-Executive Chairperson of the National Board for Social Protection, for a period of three (3) years, with effect from the 28th August, 2026.”
As chairperson, Mbaka will provide strategic leadership, high-level oversight and governance to the board, while leaving the day-to-day management of the institution to its executive structures.
The National Board for Social Protection was established under the Social Protection Act, 2025, to oversee beneficiary registration and the distribution of social welfare benefits to vulnerable citizens.
Her three-year term is expected to run until August 2029, after which the President may extend her tenure for another three years or make new appointments.
The two appointments place Shume and Mbaka at the helm of institutions dealing with two distinct areas of government policy – the welfare of military veterans and social protection for vulnerable citizens.
The Gazette also announced several other appointments and reappointments to state institutions.
Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale reappointed Paul Kaino Cheboi, Eunice Wangui Karanja, Hardlyne Lusui and Joseph Ouma Atonga as members of the Kenya Medical Training College Board for three years from August 28.
Information, Communications and the Digital Economy Cabinet Secretary William Kabogo reappointed Ndungu Guchu, Jimmy Munyao Mauta and Dinah Samikwo to the Kenya Yearbook Editorial Board for three years from September 1.
Kabogo also appointed Mashati Meitamei as a member of the Council of the Kenya Institute of Mass Communication for three years.
Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Migos Ogamba appointed Abdi Mouild Abdi as chairperson of the Kenya Institute of Special Education Council, while Daniel Njiru Mugendi and Fred Simiyu Barasa were appointed to the Kenya Universities and Colleges Central Placement Service Placement Board.
The appointments come less than a year before the 2027 General Election, with the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission requiring public officers seeking elective positions to resign by February 10, 2027.