Ex-CS Farida Karoney Appointed as Chair of National Lottery Board

President William Ruto has appointed former Lands Cabinet Secretary, Farida Karoney, as the Chairperson of the National Lottery Board. The appointment was formalized in a Gazette Notice dated August 22, 2024, and Karoney’s tenure as the board’s chairperson is set to begin on August 23, 2024, for a three-year period. This appointment marks Karoney’s return to public service after her tenure as Lands Cabinet Secretary under former President Uhuru Kenyatta.

Karoney’s New Role and Responsibilities

Farida Karoney’s appointment comes at a pivotal time as the government moves to operationalize the National Lottery Act, which was enacted last December. The Act establishes the National Lottery Fund, a crucial mechanism intended to manage and disburse the proceeds generated from the National Lottery. The primary objective of the National Lottery Fund is to ensure the equitable distribution of resources for good causes across Kenya, thereby promoting uniform benefits for all citizens.

As the chair of the National Lottery Board, Karoney will be tasked with steering the board’s activities, ensuring that the lottery operates smoothly and transparently. The board’s responsibilities include overseeing the design of lottery games, managing ticket sales, ensuring timely prize payouts, and maintaining strict regulations and oversight. Additionally, the board will be responsible for determining the use of proceeds from the lottery and ensuring transparency and accountability in how these funds are distributed.

The National Lottery’s Role in Kenya

The concept of a national lottery is not new; it is a form of gambling where the outcome is based purely on chance. However, beyond the excitement of winning prizes, the primary purpose of the National Lottery in Kenya is to generate revenue for public initiatives. By taxing winnings and utilizing the proceeds from ticket sales, the government can fund various programs that improve the quality of life for Kenyan citizens.

The National Lottery Board, under Karoney’s leadership, will play a crucial role in ensuring that the funds raised through the lottery are used effectively to support good causes. This could include funding educational programs, healthcare initiatives, infrastructure projects, and other public services that benefit the broader population.

The Importance of Transparency and Accountability

One of the critical challenges facing any national lottery is ensuring that the process is transparent and that the funds are used appropriately. Karoney’s board will be tasked with implementing robust regulations and oversight mechanisms to ensure that the lottery operates with integrity. This includes conducting fair and transparent drawings, ensuring that ticket sales are managed properly, and that prize payouts are handled without any discrepancies.

Moreover, the board will need to ensure that the proceeds from the lottery are used in a manner that is both transparent and accountable. This means regularly auditing the funds, providing clear reports on how the money is spent, and ensuring that the resources are distributed equitably across the country.

Karoney’s Return to Public Service

Farida Karoney’s return to government service as the chairperson of the National Lottery Board underscores President Ruto’s confidence in her abilities to lead and manage important public institutions. During her tenure as the Lands Cabinet Secretary, Karoney was known for her efforts to streamline land administration and improve service delivery in the ministry. Her appointment to this new role signals the President’s commitment to ensuring that the National Lottery is managed effectively and that its proceeds are used to benefit all Kenyans.

Karoney’s experience in government, coupled with her leadership skills, will be invaluable as she takes on the responsibility of steering the National Lottery Board. As the lottery begins its operations, all eyes will be on how the board manages this new initiative and how it can positively impact the lives of Kenyans across the country.

In conclusion, the appointment of Farida Karoney as the chairperson of the National Lottery Board marks an important step in operationalizing the National Lottery Act. With the board now in place, the focus will be on ensuring that the lottery is run efficiently, transparently, and that the proceeds are used to support good causes that benefit all Kenyans.