NAIROBI — Former Taita Taveta Governor Granton Samboja is making a return to public life. President William Ruto has named him the new non-executive chair of the Pyrethrum Processing Company of Kenya (PPCK), a once-vital state corporation now eyeing a revival.
The appointment, confirmed in a Gazette Notice dated 23 May 2025, gives Samboja a three-year term at the helm of the company’s board.
“In exercise of the powers conferred by section 6(1)(a) of the State Corporations Act, I appoint Granton Samboja to be the Non-Executive Chairperson of the Board of Directors of the Pyrethrum Processing Company of Kenya,” President Ruto said in the notice.
Samboja, a media executive-turned-politician, led Taita Taveta County between 2017 and 2022. His political career has been marked by a mix of development pledges and tense relations with the county assembly. He lost his re-election bid in the 2022 general election.
PPCK, based in Nakuru’s industrial area, was once a key player in Kenya’s agricultural sector, processing pyrethrum flowers for the global pesticide market. But over the past two decades, the industry has struggled with mismanagement, poor farmer incentives, and competition from synthetic alternatives.
Samboja’s appointment comes as the Ruto administration seeks to inject new energy into underperforming state firms, especially those in agriculture.
In a related move, President Ruto also appointed Lieutenant General (Rtd.) Adan K. Mulata as the new non-executive chair of the National Youth Service Council. Mulata will also serve a three-year term, effective 23 May.
Both appointments are seen as part of a broader reshuffle that places political allies and trusted figures in strategic roles across public institutions.
Whether Samboja’s experience in governance and media will breathe new life into Kenya’s struggling pyrethrum sector remains to be seen. For now, the government is signaling that it wants a different approach one that may rely more on seasoned hands than fresh faces.