Lydia Sitienei Chelagat: Education And Career Journey Of Ruto’s Data Commissioner Nominee Set To Earn KSh 674,900 Monthly Salary
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President William Ruto has nominated Lydia Sitienei Chelagat for appointment as Data Commissioner, in an announcement that was made by Government Spokesperson Charles Owino on November 9, 2026.
Her appointment followed a recruitment exercise that attracted 152 applicants.
But who exactly is Lydia Chelagat? This is her profile as told by WoK:
Background
Lydia Sitienei Chelagat is a Kenyan lawyer, corporate governance specialist, and public-sector executive.
She has more than 15 years of professional experience.
Before being nominated by the President, she was serving as the Director of Legal Services and Corporate Secretary at the Communications Authority of Kenya (CA), a position she assumed in 2023.
Chelagat is also an Advocate of the High Court of Kenya, a qualified company secretary and an accredited governance auditor.
Lydia Chelagat’s Education Background
Chelagat has an Associate’s Degree, a Certificate of Preliminary Legal Studies, as well as a Bachelor’s of Laws (LLB), both from the University of Buckingham.
She also has a Master of Public Policy & Management, Public Policy Analysis from Strathmore Business School (SBS).
Additionally, she has an Advanced Management Program certification from Strathmore Business School.
Chelagat also has executive training at New York University’s Robert F. Wagner Graduate School of Public Service, IESE Business School in Spain, and China Europe International Business School.
Aside from her academic qualifications, Chelagat is a Certified Public Secretary and Accredited Governance Auditor.
Career journey
Chelagat’s career began at CPF Financial Services in January 2012, where she worked as a Senior Legal Officer.
Just a year later, she was promoted to Group Company Secretary and Legal Services Manager, a position she held until July 2017.
From there, she moved to the Kenya Electricity Transmission Company (KETRACO), where she worked as the Manager of Legal Services, Commercial Compliance and Secretariat.
In July 2021, she became KETRACO’s Company Secretary and General Manager of Legal Services.
After more than six years at KETRACO, Chelagat joined the Communications Authority in 2023 as the company’s Director of Legal Services and Corporate Secretary, which was where she worked until President Ruto’s nomination.
Lydia Chelagat’s Salary
Should Parliament approve her appointment, Chelagat will qualify for a fixed gross monthly salary of KSh 674,900, or an amount determined by the Salaries and Remuneration Commission.
That translates into KSh 8,098,800 annually.
Therefore, for the six-year tenure that she will serve as data commissioner, Chelagat will receive approximately KSh 48,592,800 in gross remuneration.
She will also be eligible for medical cover and other benefits.
151 Other Applicants
Chelagat’s nomination followed a competitive recruitment exercise that was conducted by the Public Service Commission.
The recruitment advert was posted on the Public Service Commission portal.
The commission received 152 applications but shortlisted only 13 candidates for interviews held on October 5, 2026, at its Nairobi offices.
Following the interviews, the PSC recommended Chelagat for appointment.
Government Spokesperson Charles Owino announced the decsion on November 9, and her nomination was forwarded to Parliament in accordance with the Data Protection Act 2019.
If approved, she will replace Immaculate Kassait, who has been serving as Kenya’s Data Commissioner for the past six years.
Her office will be responsible for investigating complaints about digital lenders accessing customers’ contacts, businesses mishandling personal records, or institutions unlawfully sharing sensitive information.
She will also be responsible for investigating how government agencies, banks, telecommunications companies, and other organisations handle millions of Kenyans’ personal information.
