Meet Dr John Mativo, The New KETRACO Boss

The Cabinet Secretary, Ministry of Energy & Petroleum Davis Chirchir has appointed Dr (Eng) John Mativo as the Managing Director & Chief Executive Officer for the Kenya Electricity Transmission Company (KETRACO) Ltd.

Dr. (Eng) Mativo was picked from the three names recommended to the CS following the successful and competitive recruitment process concluded by the Board of Directors.

The position of Managing Director & CEO fell vacant in February 2022 when the then Managing Director & CEO Fernandes Barasa resigned to join politics.

The Company’s Managing Director & CEO recruitment process attracted 194 applications of which eight candidates were interviewed by the Board of Directors.

His appointment comes following the recent changes announced by the Chairman of the Board of KETRACO Mr Abdi Bare Duale. The appointment takes effect from April 24, 2023 on a contract term of three years renewable once subject to performance and retirement age for Public Officers.

From January 2023, the organization was steered by Eng. Isaac Kiva who is also the Secretary, the Renewable Energy Directorate at the Ministry of Energy and Petroleum.

Eng. Kiva reverts to his substantive position at the Ministry and is accredited with having streamlined the Company’s operations and strengthening of teamwork during his short stint at the Company.

Dr(Eng.) John Mativo previously served the Company in various capacities since 2010. He has a wealth of experience and institutional knowledge to support sustainable socio-economic development of the Country.

He takes over the Company’s leadership at the height of reforms in the Energy Sector geared towards reducing the cost of power. He will oversee the formulation and implementation of the Company’s Fourth Strategic Plan 2023/28, the Operationalization of the System Operator Mandate under the Energy Act 2019 and the implementation of the Company’s first PPP Transmission Projects.

Mativo holds a Doctorate (PhD) degree in Civil Engineering from Tokyo Metropolitan University (Japan), a Master’s degree in Structural Engineering from Tongji University (China), and a Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering from the University of Nairobi.

He has over 25 years of working in both the public and private sectors with an extensive experience in research, planning, design, construction supervision and contract management for transmission infrastructure, residential houses, office blocks and marine structures.

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