President William Ruto has appointed Engineer Michael Thoyah Kingi to serve as a member of the Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC) for a term of six years. The appointment was officially published in the Kenya Gazette on November 14, 2025.
This appointment, made under Article 230 (2)(b)(ii) and Article 250 (2)(b) of the Constitution, follows the procedures set out in Section 7(13) of the Salaries and Remuneration Commission Act, 2011. Michael Kingi will join Chairperson Sammy Chepkwony and six other commissioners, including Maj-Gen (Rtd) Martin Kizito Ong’onyi, Mohamed Aden Abdi, Jane Gatakaa Njage, Dr. Gilda Odera, Dr. Geoffrey Apollo Omondi, and Leonid Ashindu.
Michael Thoyah Kingi is a former Member of Parliament for Magarini Constituency, having served from 2017 to 2022. He lost his reelection bid under the Pamoja African Alliance (PAA) ticket. His nomination sparked debate due to his familial ties with Senate Speaker Amason Kingi. During his vetting by the National Assembly Labour Committee on October 21, 2025, Kingi was questioned about potential conflicts of interest arising from his political connections.
In response, he emphasized that he is not affiliated with any political party and will not participate in the upcoming Magarini by-election, following the Supreme Court’s nullification of Harrison Garama Kombe’s 2022 election. “My name is not on the ballot. I do not belong to any political party, so there is no concern,” Kingi told MPs. He also stated that he had taken a break from politics after leaving PAA post-2022 elections.
Kingi’s appointment is effective immediately and he will serve a full six-year term. Observers note that his experience as an MP and engineer will bring valuable expertise to the SRC as it continues to advise the government on public service remuneration and related matters.
