Esther Koimett Takes the Helm at Lake Turkana Wind Power as Non-Executive Chairperson

Former Principal Secretary Esther Koimett has been appointed chairperson of Lake Turkana Wind Power, placing one of Kenya's most seasoned investment and public policy experts in charge of East Africa's largest wind energy project. In a statement on November 4, Lake Turkana Wind Power announced that Koimett will serve as its new non-executive chairperson, taking over from acting chairman Willy Irei after a recruitment process launched earlier this year. She will now oversee the 310-megawatt wind farm in Marsabit County, which generates clean electricity for the national grid through 365 wind turbines. Koimett brings more than 35 years of experience in public policy, investment management, privatisation, and corporate governance.

Koimett's appointment follows a career that includes influential positions across Kenya's public and corporate sectors. She began her professional journey in 1979 at the Kenya Tourist Development Corporation as a Loans Officer before moving into investment promotion roles. In 1994, she joined the Executive Secretariat and Technical Unit of the Parastatal Reform Programme Committee as a Financial Analyst and later became Deputy Coordinator. Her experience in state enterprise reforms led to her appointment as Investment Secretary in the Ministry of Finance in 2001, where she oversaw government investments and public sector restructuring initiatives before serving as Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Tourism and Information.

She also served as Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Kenya Post Office Savings Bank, and returned to the National Treasury in 2005 as Investment Secretary and Director General of Public Investments and Portfolio Management until 2018. During that period, she became a central figure behind Kenya's privatisation programme and government investment strategy. Her professional architecture includes leading roles in major capital market transactions, notably the initial public offerings of Safaricom, Kenya Electricity Generating Company, and Kenya Reinsurance Corporation, alongside work involving Telkom Kenya, Kenya Airways, Kenya Commercial Bank, Housing Finance, and Mumias Sugar Company.

Why This Matters

The leadership transition at Lake Turkana Wind Power places a veteran architect of Kenya's financial reforms at the governance helm of the nation's premier renewable energy asset. Governance continuity and strategic depth are critical for infrastructure projects of this scale, particularly those supplying foundational electricity to the national grid through massive generation capacities. Koimett's extensive background in public investments and portfolio management provides the institutional oversight necessary for navigating complex energy sector dynamics and maintaining reliable, low-cost power delivery.

Her track record in managing large-scale state transactions and corporate restructuring aligns directly with the operational maturity required by major energy producers. As the facility continues to anchor regional renewable capacity through its 365 wind turbines in Marsabit County, strong board leadership ensures sustained alignment between private sector operational efficiency and national energy security objectives.

Opportunities

• Operators: Facility management teams can leverage board-level governance expertise to streamline asset maintenance and grid integration for the 310-megawatt installation.
• Financiers: Institutional investors and lenders gain enhanced confidence in project governance under a seasoned public policy and privatisation expert.
• Corporate Strategists: Energy sector stakeholders can engage with a leadership structure well-versed in large-scale capital market transactions and state enterprise frameworks.

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