Cabinet Secretary
National Treasury of Kenya
Mr. Henry K. Rotich is currently the Cabinet Secretary for the National Treasury in Kenya. He assumed the position in May 2013 following the successful general election under the new Constitutional dispensation. In this portfolio, Mr. Rotich is charged with managing Kenya’s national government finances, including spearheading an efficient and sustainable public financial management under a new devolved system of governance, which is fundamental for promoting equitable socio-economic development and efficient delivery of services to Kenyans. Mr. Rotich has been instrumental in prioritizing increasing investment in infrastructure, agriculture, security, education and skills development to raise productivity, as well as improving the business environment to promote investments, consistent with the new Administration’s development agenda. More recently, Mr. Rotich led the largest successful debut bond issuance in Africa, where Kenya raised US$ 2 billion to finance infrastructure. The Eurobond has been voted the best emerging market deal in Africa and third in emerging markets in 2014.
Prior to his elevation as a Cabinet Secretary, Mr. Rotich was the Head of Macroeconomics at the Ministry of Finance, since March 2006. Under this capacity he was involved in formulation of macroeconomic policies that ensured an affordable and sustainable path of public spending aimed at achieving the Government’s development priorities. He was also involved in preparation of key budget documents including the Budget Policy Statements, as well as providing strategic coordination of structural reforms in the area of fiscal and financial sector.
Before joining the Ministry of Finance, Mr. Rotich also worked at the Research Department of the Central Bank of Kenya since 1994. Between 2001-2004, he was attached to the International Monetary Fund (IMF) local office in Nairobi to work as an economist. Mr. Rotich has also served in other senior positions. He was a Director on several Boards of State Corporations, including; Insurance Regulatory Board; Industrial Development Bank; Communications Authority of Kenya; and Kenya National Bureau of Statistics.
Mr. Rotich holds a Master’s Degree in Public Administration (MPA) from the Harvard Kennedy School, Harvard University, USA. He also holds a Master’s Degree in Economics and a Bachelor’s Degree in Economics, both from University of Nairobi, Kenya.