David Ndii Named Non-executive Director on Kenya Airways Board

Kenya Airways has announced a major reshaping of its board, appointing economist David Ndii as a non-executive director and naming Kiprono Kittony as board chairperson and independent non-executive director.

The airline also confirmed the appointment of Chris Diaz, chairman of Adili Group, and Winnie Iminza Nyamute, an associate professor at University of Nairobi, as independent non-executive directors. Company secretary Habil Waswani said the appointments were made in line with the Capital Markets Authority’s Capital Markets Regulations 2023.

Ndii’s appointment comes shortly after the High Court of Kenya declared unconstitutional the President’s Council of Economic Advisers, which he chaired. The court ruled that the advisory positions had been created without parliamentary approval, bypassed the Public Service Commission of Kenya, and duplicated existing government roles. 

The judgment cancelled the appointments of 21 advisers and barred the payment of their salaries, although government lawyers have indicated they intend to appeal. Ndii responded by describing the ruling as a “pyrrhic victory”, saying he and his colleagues could continue to advise President William Ruto informally.

Over more than three decades, Ndii has played a prominent role in Kenya’s economic policy debates. He contributed to the Economic Recovery Strategy introduced under the National Rainbow Coalition government and took part in the constitutional review process that led to the adoption of the Constitution of Kenya 2010. 

His work has also extended beyond Kenya, including advisory roles linked to the presidency in Rwanda and engagements with international financial institutions.