Mary-Ann Musangi picked to lead Kenya’s tourism rebrand in new State appointments

Tourism and Wildlife Cabinet Secretary Rebecca Miano has picked a team of seasoned Chief Marketing Officers to lead the rebrand of Kenya’s tourism image.

The team will be tasked with overhauling the ‘Magical Kenya’ brand and repositioning the country as a world-class, youth-driven destination through innovation, sustainability and tech-savvy marketing.

Chairing the 23-member taskforce will be HACO Industries Managing Director Mary-Ann Musangi, with Monali Shah as her vice-chair; Grace Wangui Kamau and Fatuma Huka will serve as joint secretaries.

Members of the team include notable industry players such as Kenya Tourism Board (KTB) boss June Chepkemei, hotelier Mohammed Hersi, creative Fakii Liwali, Nation Media Group (NMG) Head of Broadcasting Simaloi Dajom, as well as Belva Digital CEO Serah Katusya.

Others are: Isabelle Rostom, Carolyne Kendi, Zizwe Awour, Nelly Wainaina, Maurice Juma, Timothy Birir, Rosalind Gichuru, Mike Njogu, Yvonne Ogwang, John Waigi, Yvonne Tharao, Stephen Kinyanjui, and Harrison Pemba Taga.

In a gazette notice dated August 15, 2025, CS Miano said the taskforce’s mandate includes conducting a deep-dive assessment into Kenya’s global tourism perception, benchmarking against leading destinations, and crafting a modern brand strategy aligned to national development blueprints like Vision 2030 and the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda.

The taskforce will serve for a period of twelve months, reporting directly to the CS, and is expected to submit a comprehensive report with actionable recommendations and an implementation roadmap within that period.

In the same gazette notice, President William Ruto also made fresh appointments, naming Prof. John Onyango Owino the new Non-Executive Chairperson of the Commission for University Education, for a period of 3 years.

The Head of State also appointed John Antira Ketora as the Non-Executive Chairperson of the Board of the Jomo Kenyatta Foundation, and Lt. Gn. (Rtd) Levi Franklin Mghalu as the Non-Executive Chairperson of the Board of Directors of the Kenya National Shipping Line.

President Ruto further declared a vacancy in the positions of Chairperson and members of the National Land Commission following the impending lapse of the six-year non-renewable term of the current office-bearers on November 14, 2025.

He hence constituted a Selection Panel tasked with recruiting new office holders, composed of: Jasper Micheni Mbiuki, Dr. Peris C.K. Mang’ira, Dr. Electine Nasambu, Ann Mwangangi, Bibiana Rabuku Omalla, Prof. Nichola Letting, as well as former Isiolo Woman Representative Rehema Dida Jaldesa.

Investements, Trade and Industry Cabinet Secretary Lee Kinyanjui, on his part, made three appointments to memberships of various State agencies.

He appointed Antony Mwangi to serve as a member on the Kenya Investment Authority Board, Joyce Kiprop Cheruiyot to the Special Economics Zone Authority, and re-appointed Philip Coulson to also serve as a member of the same State body – all for periods of three years.