The Azimio la Umoja One Kenya Alliance co-principal Kalonzo Musyoka has proposed former Nairobi Town Clerk Philip Kisia to head the opposition outfit as the coalition’s Executive Director.
“I propose that Mr Philip Kisia be appointed as the new Executive Director of the Azimio La Umoja One Kenya Coalition Party to take over from Hon. Raphael Tuju,” Kalonzo noted.
“Mr Kisia’s extensive experience in public service, private sector leadership, and community engagement, makes him uniquely qualified to lead Azimio’s Secretariat as it transitions to an all-inclusive and progressive Coalition.”
Kisia is a household name in Kenya’s governance and business circles having served as Nairobi City Council Town Clerk where he implemented various reforms.
Kalonzo who has expressed interest in vying for the presidency in 2027 is seemingly assembling a team of professionals he deems crucial in clinching the country’s top seat.
As the Executive Director, Kisia will coordinate all member parties of Azimio and will lead the strategic and program teams, which will work to ensure the coalition’s victory in the next General Election.
Kalonzo made the proposal during his end and new year speech function hosted the SKM Command Centre in Nairobi on Tuesday, December 30th, 2024.
Kisia a hotelier by profession and a businessman is credited with tackling cartels and eliminating corruption in the then Nairobi City Council now Nairobi County Government . While he was Town Clerk, the now-defunct Kenya Anti-Corruption Authority (KACC – predecessor to the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission) acknowledged his efforts and listed him among the top five public servants who were collaborating with KACA to eliminate corruption.
However, his efforts to strengthen the council’s audit department stalled upon his departure.
During his time as the Nairobi Central Business District Association (NCBDA) boss, Mr Kisia oversaw various projects, including beautification, community policing, public toilets and street lighting.
In 2005, the Narc government led by the late Mwai Kibaki hired him as the first managing director of the newly created state corporation, Kenyatta International Conference Centre (KICC).
When he moved to KICC, Mr Kisia helped restore the city’s first skyscraper, which was in an advanced state of decay, to its former prominence.
In fact, within a year, the institution had become so impressive it was the first parastatal in the Kibaki government to be ISO certified. The President had honoured Mr Kisia the previous year with the Head of State Commendation (HSC). And the Marketing Society of Kenya would present him with the prestigious Warrior Award in recognition of his efforts to transform the KICC.
