Chris Kiptoo

Kiptoo is one of the selected 51 Principal Secretaries in Kenya who were appointed by H.E President William Ruto as soon as he assumed office following the 2022 general elections in Kenya. [1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6] [7] After a thorough vetting of all the shortlisted candidates in the PS position, he was on 1st December 2022 sworn in as the Principal Secretary, National Treasury of Kenya.[8] [9] The swearing in ceremony was presided over by President William Ruto at State house-Nairobi. [10] [11] [12][13] [14] [15]

Kiptoo helped mobilize stakeholder engagement and participation for the successful implementation of the presidential Directive on accelerated achievement and maintenance of over 10% forest cover by 2022. He led the conceptualization and development of the tree growing and Sustainable Forest Financing Program for mobilizing global and local finance from public and private sources to support forest sector development. He has been active in strengthening the policy and legislative environment for forest sector development, through which KEFRI  has been strengthened as the premier institution for tree production, processing and distribution. KEFRI’s capacity of seed production has been raised from 60 metric tons to 300 metric tons with an annual capacity to produce 3 billion seedlings.

Kiptoo joined the Ministry of Environment and Forestry as Permanent Secretary in January 2020. Through the Global Environment Facility, where he serves as the Focal Point for Kenya, Kiptoo has initiated and facilitated several programs. Kiptoo facilitated the renewed management of Michuki Park and the handing over to the Kenya Forest Service (KFS). He helped develop plans for rehabilitation and restoration of Cherangany-Elgeiyo Hill Ecosystem, Tsavo Ecosystem, Joint Programming for conservation of Southern Kenya Northern Tanzania (SOKNOT) transboundary landscape.