Kenya National Lottery Board reopens search for CEO and Fund Administrator

Kenya’s National Lottery Board has re-advertised its Chief Executive Officer/Fund Administrator position as the newly established institution continues to build its management structure and prepare for full operation of the National Lottery and its associated public-benefit fund.

Kenya’s National Lottery Board (NLB) has reopened recruitment for its Chief Executive Officer/Fund Administrator, a senior position that combines responsibility for the Board’s day-to-day management with administration of the National Lottery Fund. The vacancy is classified as Grade NLB 1 and carries a three-year contract that can be renewed once.

According to the official re-advertisement, the successful candidate will report directly to the Board and provide strategic leadership and policy direction as the NLB implements its mandate. Responsibilities will include overseeing National Lottery operations, administering the Fund, serving as the Board’s accounting officer and ensuring that lottery proceeds allocated for good causes are managed and distributed appropriately.

The National Lottery Board was established under Section 4 of the National Lottery Act, 2023. Its mandate includes safeguarding the integrity, transparency and accountability of Kenya’s National Lottery. Through the National Lottery Fund, proceeds are intended to support areas including charitable initiatives, economic empowerment, sports, arts and culture, national heritage, emergency response and major national development projects.

The combined CEO and Fund Administrator role gives the eventual appointee considerable responsibility over both institutional management and the financial architecture supporting those programmes. The National Lottery Act provides that the Board’s CEO also serves as Administrator of the Fund, with responsibilities including supervising its daily administration, maintaining financial records, managing its assets and preparing accounts for audit.

The vacancy notice requires applicants to be Kenyan citizens, hold a degree from a university recognised in Kenya and have at least ten years of senior-management experience in either a public or private institution. Candidates must also satisfy the leadership and integrity requirements contained in Chapter Six of Kenya’s Constitution.

Applications must reach the Board by 5pm East African Time on August 24, 2026. Significantly, the NLB has stated that candidates who applied during the previous recruitment exercise must submit fresh applications, confirming that the latest process is a re-advertisement rather than merely an extension of the original deadline. The Board has not stated in the vacancy notice why the earlier recruitment process did not result in a substantive appointment.

The permanent recruitment is taking place while Dr Martin Talian continues to serve as Acting Chief Executive Officer. According to the NLB, Talian has held the acting position since January 15, 2026 and has been responsible for operationalising the Board’s mandate, establishing its institutional structures and supporting procurement of a National Lottery operator.

The selection of a permanent chief executive comes at an important stage in the development of Kenya’s National Lottery. The Board describes itself as being in the process of establishing a new national institution, while procurement work connected with the future National Lottery operator has also been progressing during 2026. In April, the NLB sought transaction-advisory services specifically to support procurement of that operator.

The appointment will therefore extend beyond conventional administrative leadership. The successful candidate will be expected to oversee the creation of governance and financial-management systems capable of supporting the lottery while ensuring that proceeds earmarked for public-benefit projects are managed transparently and in accordance with the National Lottery Act.

Re-advertising the position indicates that the NLB is continuing its effort to secure permanent leadership while the institution moves from its establishment phase towards full operations. With the application deadline set for August 24, the eventual appointment will be closely watched because the new CEO will play a central role in shaping both the operational launch of Kenya’s National Lottery and the management of the funds it is intended to generate for good causes.