In a surprising move that left the nation scratching its collective head, President William Ruto has announced the appointment of former Taveta MP, Basil Criticos as the Chairperson of the Kenya Trade Network Agency (KTNA) Board.

This announcement was revealed in a gazette notice dated May 26, 2023.

Ruto, exercising his powers under the Kenya Trade Network Agency Order of 2010, along with the Interpretation and General Provisions Act, declared that Criticos would assume his role with immediate effect and hold the position for a duration of three years.

“In exercise of the powers conferred by paragraph 6 (1) (a) of the Kenya Trade Network Agency Order, 2010, as read together with section 51 (1) of the Interpretation and General Provisions Act, I, William Samoei Ruto, President of the Republic of Kenya and Commander-in-Chief of the Defence Forces, appoint— Basil Criticos to be the Chairperson of the Kenya Trade Network Agency Board, for a period of three years, with effect from the 26th May, 2023,” the gazette notice reads in part.

The decision has taken many Kenyans by surprise, raising eyebrows and prompting questions about the president's motivation.

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This particularly stems from the controversial circumstances under which Ruto acquired a huge chunk of land measuring 2,536 acres from Criticos.

During his campaigns, while addressing the residents of Mata in Taita Taveta where the land is, Ruto claimed Criticos gifted him a portion of his land after he helped him out to settle a loan he had borrowed from the Agricultural Finance Corporation some years back.