President Ruto Appoints Joseph Kirui Limo as New Chair of Kenya’s Gambling Regulatory Authority

President William Ruto has appointed former Kipkelion East MP Joseph Kirui Limo as the new Non-Executive Chairperson of the Gambling Regulatory Authority (GRA), replacing Jane Mwikali Makau.

The appointment, officially announced through the Kenya Gazette on October 24 2025, marks a key leadership change as the newly formed GRA takes over regulatory oversight from the defunct Betting Control and Licensing Board (BCLB). Limo’s term will run for three years under the Gambling Control Act 2025.

Prior to this appointment, Limo served as a Member of Parliament between 2017 and 2022 and has an extensive background in public administration in Kenya’s Rift Valley region. His leadership comes at a critical moment as Kenya moves to fully operationalise its new gambling regulatory framework.

Jane Mwikali Makau, who previously chaired the authority, has been reassigned to the National Water Harvesting and Storage Authority. Alongside Limo, the government also named new GRA board members — Emma Wambui Mbugua, Anne Derasso Illo, Fredrick Odumo Nying’uro, and Valarie Angela Akinyi Lomosi — each serving three-year terms.

According to a statement from State House, the appointments are part of President Ruto’s Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA), which aims to strengthen governance, transparency, and accountability across public institutions.

Industry observers say Limo’s leadership will be crucial in steering the GRA through its early stages — including drafting implementing regulations, improving licensing processes, and enforcing compliance among betting and gaming operators. The transition to a unified authority is expected to modernise Kenya’s gambling oversight and boost investor confidence in the sector.