CS Opiyo Wandayi Appoints 3 New CEOs to Head Key Energy Parastatals
Energy and Petroleum Cabinet Secretary Opiyo Wandayi has appointed new chief executives to head three key institutions in Kenya’s energy sector, with the changes taking effect immediately.
CPA Tom Odhiambo Imbo has been appointed Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the Kenya Electricity Transmission Company (KETRACO), while Stephen Kipsang Busieney takes over as Managing Director and CEO of the Geothermal Development Company (GDC).
Eng. Edward Mwirigi Kinyua has been appointed Director General of the Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (EPRA).
The Ministry of Energy and Petroleum said the appointments followed recruitment processes conducted by the respective boards of directors in accordance with applicable laws and human resource guidelines.
The appointments were approved by CS Wandayi under the State Corporations Act, Cap 446, the Companies Act, Cap 486 and the Energy Act, Cap 314.
“The appointments, which are to take effect immediately, are a culmination of rigorous recruitment processes undertaken in accordance with the applicable laws and relevant Human Resource guidelines by the respective Boards of Directors of KETRACO, GDC and EPRA,” Wandayi said.
The Cabinet Secretary congratulated the three appointees and said their leadership would support the government’s plans for the energy and petroleum sector.
Tom Imbo Takes Charge at KETRACO
Imbo is a finance management professional with more than 19 years of experience in both the private and public sectors.
He has worked at KETRACO for about 10 years, holding various positions within the Finance and Strategy functions and serving as Acting General Manager for Finance.
KETRACO’s official profile identifies him as an experienced finance professional with an MBA in Finance and a Bachelor of Education in Economics from Kenyatta University.
He is also a Certified Public Accountant (CPA-K) and a member of ICPAK.
Before joining KETRACO, Imbo worked as Head of Management Accounts at United States International University (USIU).
His appointment comes as KETRACO continues to oversee the development and expansion of Kenya’s high-voltage electricity transmission network.
KETRACO is mandated to plan, design, construct, own, operate and maintain high-voltage transmission infrastructure and regional power interconnectors forming the backbone of the national transmission grid.
Its projects include grid-strengthening, power-evacuation, electricity-access and regional-interconnection projects.
In September 2026, KETRACO commissioned or supported the commissioning of several transmission projects, including the Machakos–Konza–Isinya–Namanga corridor, as the country continues expanding transmission capacity.
Busieney Appointed GDC CEO
Busieney brings more than 15 years of experience in finance and accounting to GDC.
Before joining GDC, he served as Chief Financial Officer of CIMERWA Cement Company Limited in Rwanda.
He had also served at GDC as General Manager for Finance and Investment and as Acting Managing Director and CEO.
GDC’s current board profile lists Busieney as General Manager for Finance and Investment and Acting MD and CEO, and confirms his previous experience as CIMERWA’s CFO.
His professional experience also includes positions at Total Kenya, East African Portland Cement Company and Ciments du Rwanda.
Busieney holds a Master of Business Administration in Accounting from the University of Nairobi, which he pursued between 2010 and 2012.
GDC is a state corporation within the Ministry of Energy responsible for the development of Kenya’s geothermal resources.
Kinyua Moves From EPRA Petroleum Director to Director General
Kinyua takes over as EPRA Director General after serving as the authority’s Director of Petroleum and Gas.
EPRA’s official profile says he has more than 14 years of experience in the petroleum sub-sector and has worked in several organisations, including Total Kenya Limited.
In his previous role, he was responsible for developing and implementing strategies for effective regulation of Kenya’s petroleum sub-sector.
He holds a Master of Science in Energy Management from the University of Nairobi and a Bachelor of Technology in Mechanical and Production Engineering from Moi University.
Kinyua is a registered professional engineer with the Engineers Board of Kenya and a corporate member of the Institution of Engineers of Kenya.
Before his appointment, Kinyua had also been publicly involved in discussions on Kenya’s upstream petroleum sector.
On September 15, 2026, he said Kenya remained on course for first oil from the South Lokichar Basin in December 2026, with the first crude exports through Mombasa expected in the first quarter of 2027, based on the approved field development plan.
At EPRA, Kinyua will head the country’s energy and petroleum regulator, whose mandate covers economic and technical regulation of electricity, renewable energy, petroleum and coal.
The authority also regulates electricity and petroleum tariffs, petroleum operations and energy-sector standards, while protecting consumer and investor interests.
The three appointments therefore place experienced officials at the helm of institutions responsible for some of the country’s key energy functions — electricity transmission, geothermal development and regulation of the energy and petroleum sectors.
