Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi has made a new appointment at the Retirement Benefits Authority (RBA), naming former Kibwezi Member of Parliament, Professor Phillip Kaloki, as the new Chairperson of the RBA Board.
Kaloki officially replaces lawyer Nelson Havi, with the change taking effect from July 30, 2025. This new development was formally published in the Kenya Gazette.
According to the Gazette notice, “In exercise of the powers granted under Section 6(1) of the Retirement Benefits Act, the Cabinet Secretary for the National Treasury appoints, under paragraph (a), Prof. Phillip Kaloki to serve as Chairperson of the Board of the Retirement Benefits Authority for a period of three years, effective July 30, 2025.”
Professor Kaloki brings a wealth of leadership and management experience to the role. In the past, he served as the Chief Executive Officer of the Global Centre for Business Development, where he oversaw several economic consulting and market analysis projects across East Africa.
He was also the Chairperson of the Kenya Medical Training College (KMTC) Board from 2013 to 2021.
In addition to his corporate and academic achievements, Kaloki has a strong political background. He represented Kibwezi Constituency in Parliament after being elected in 2007 on an ODM-Kenya party ticket.
Although he served as an MP until 2013, Kaloki also contested for the Makueni governorship in 2013 and again for the Kibwezi East parliamentary seat in 2017, although he was unsuccessful in both bids. More recently, he was the running mate to Polycarp Igathe during the Nairobi gubernatorial elections.
The RBA is governed by a non-executive Board of Directors, which holds the highest authority in terms of policy-making and overall governance of the institution.
Kaloki now assumes this critical role, taking over from Nelson Havi, who was appointed as Chairperson in February 2023 through a gazette notice by then-Treasury CS Prof.
Njuguna Ndung’u. Havi was expected to serve until 2026, but his tenure has been cut short without an official explanation being given by the Treasury.
Despite the unexpected replacement, Havi has responded graciously. In a statement on social media, he wrote:
“Congratulations, Professor Phillip Kaloki, on your appointment as Chair of the Retirement Benefits Authority.” He added in a light-hearted tone, “They made me a wantam Chair. I am okay with it.”
Nelson Havi is a seasoned legal professional who served as the 49th President of the Law Society of Kenya (LSK). He is also the founding partner and senior advocate at Havi & Company Advocates.
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