Ruto nominates Lydia Sitienei Chelagat as Kenya's Data Commissioner
9 November 2026
President William Ruto has nominated Lydia Sitienei Chelagat as Kenya's Data Commissioner.
The nomination followed a recommendation by the Public Service Commission and has gone to the National Assembly for approval.
Chelagat is the legal director of the Communications Authority.
She would succeed Immaculate Kassait, Kenya's first Data Commissioner, whose six-year term is ending.
The Data Commissioner heads the Office of the Data Protection Commissioner (ODPC), set up under the Data Protection Act, 2019, and serves one non-renewable six-year term.
In the same announcement, Peninah Wangare Wahome was named Chief Executive Officer of the Anti-Doping Agency of Kenya (ADAK).
In plain words
ODPC Office of the Data Protection Commissioner — Kenya's independent data-privacy regulator.
ADAK Anti-Doping Agency of Kenya — Kenya's body for fighting doping in sport.