President William Ruto has re-appointed Feisal Abass as the non-executive Chairperson of the Privatisation Commission for another three-year term, marking a continued vote of confidence in his leadership at the helm of the agency. The reappointment was formally announced through a gazette notice dated July 18, 2025.
“In exercise of the powers conferred by section 5 (1) (a) of the Privatisation Act, I, William Samoei Ruto, President of the Republic of Kenya and Commander-in-Chief of the Defence Forces, reappoint Feisal Abass to be the non-executive Chairperson of the Privatisation Commission, for a period of three (3) years, with effect from the 18th July, 2025,” the notice stated.
Abass’s reappointment signals a continuity of leadership at a time when the Commission is playing a vital role in advising the government on the privatisation of state-owned enterprises as part of efforts to improve efficiency and reduce the fiscal burden on taxpayers.
The Privatisation Commission, established under the Privatisation Act of 2005, is mandated to formulate, manage, and implement the country’s privatisation programme. It has since transitioned into the Privatisation Authority under ongoing reforms aimed at fast-tracking the privatisation agenda.
Feisal Abass brings to the role over 20 years of experience in both public and private sector leadership. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Economics from the American University in Cairo and an MBA in Strategic Management from the University of Nairobi.
His previous leadership roles include board positions at key parastatals such as the Kenya Electricity Generating Company (KenGen), the Geothermal Development Company (GDC), and the Rural Electrification and Renewable Energy Corporation (REREC). He also chaired the Policyholders Compensation Fund (PCF), where he led significant governance reforms.
Notably, Abass played an instrumental role in KenGen’s listing on the Nairobi Securities Exchange, showcasing his commitment to ushering state-owned enterprises into market-driven operations with greater transparency and accountability.
First appointed in July 2022 by then-President Uhuru Kenyatta, Abass’s retention by the Ruto administration underscores his pivotal role in steering Kenya’s privatisation reforms.
