Who is James Kipsiele Tembur? Biography, Wiki, Age, Wife, Net Worth, Family & More
James Kipsiele Tembur is a Kenyan public servant and the current Director General and Chief Executive Officer of the National Youth Service (NYS), a state corporation that provides paramilitary training, technical skills, and community service to the youth of Kenya. He was appointed to this position in December 2023, after serving as the Deputy Director General and the acting Director General of the NYS.
James Kipsiele Tembur Wiki/Bio
| Name | James Kipsiele Tembur |
| Place of birth | 65-70 years old (estimate) |
| Nationality | Kenyan |
| Occupation | Public servant |
| Position | Director General and CEO of NYS |
| Predecessor | Matilda Sakwa |
| Spouse | Will Update |
| Children | Not Known |
| Homepage | newsunzip.com |
Career and Achievements
James Tembur has been working at the NYS since at least 2018 when he was the Deputy Director General under Richard Ndubai, who was later implicated in a corruption scandal involving the loss of over Ksh 9 billion from the NYS. Tembur was appointed as the acting Director General in May 2018, after Ndubai was arrested and suspended from his duties.
Tembur continued to serve as the acting Director General until September 2019, when President Uhuru Kenyatta confirmed the appointment of Matilda Sakwa as the new Director General of the NYS. Sakwa was the first woman to hold this position, and she was tasked with reforming the NYS and restoring its reputation after the corruption scandal. Tembur resumed his role as the Deputy Director General under Sakwa and supported her in implementing various initiatives and programs at the NYS.
In April 2023, Sakwa’s tenure as the Director General ended, and she handed over her mandates to Tembur, who once again became the acting Director General. Sakwa praised Tembur for his loyalty and cooperation and expressed her gratitude to him and the NYS staff for their service. She also said that she was leaving a legacy as the first woman Service Commander and that she had prayed for an honorable exit.
In November 2023, the NYS Council announced that it had shortlisted five candidates for the position of Director General and CEO of the NYS and that they would be interviewed on December 4, 2023. The candidates were Njiri Nelson Mugweru, Anjere Alfred Tom, Nakitari Humphrey Okuku, Mbaruku Moses Njeru, and Tembur James Kipsiele. The council also invited the public to submit their views on the suitability of the candidates.
On December 23, 2023, the NYS Council declared that Tembur James Kipsiele had emerged as the best candidate for the position of Director General and CEO of the NYS and that he had been officially appointed by the President. The council congratulated Tembur for his achievement and expressed its confidence in his leadership and vision for the NYS. The council also thanked the other candidates for their participation, and the public for their feedback.
As the Director General and CEO of the NYS, Tembur is responsible for overseeing the operations, management, and development of the NYS, and ensuring that it fulfills its mandate of providing training, skills, and service to the youth of Kenya. He is also expected to uphold the values of integrity, accountability, and transparency at the NYS, and to prevent any recurrence of corruption or mismanagement. Some of the challenges that Tembur faces as the Director General include:
- Enhancing the capacity and quality of the NYS training and service programs, and ensuring that they are relevant, accessible, and beneficial to the youth and the society.
- Improving the welfare and morale of the NYS staff and recruits, and addressing any issues or grievances that they may have.
- Strengthening the collaboration and partnership between the NYS and other stakeholders, such as the government, the private sector, the civil society, and the international community.
- Securing adequate and sustainable funding and resources for the NYS, and ensuring that they are used efficiently and effectively.
- Promoting the positive image and reputation of the NYS, and enhancing its public awareness and appreciation.
James Kipsiele Tembur: The New Leader of Kenya’s National Youth Service
On December 23, 2023, President William Ruto announced the appointment of James Kipsiele Tembur as the new director-general and chief executive officer of the National Youth Service (NYS), a paramilitary organization that provides training and employment opportunities for young Kenyans.
Tembur, who was previously the deputy director-general of the NYS, will replace Matilda Sakwa, whose tenure ended in April 2023. Tembur will be responsible for overseeing the NYS’s operations, programs, and reforms, as well as ensuring that the agency fulfills its mandate of equipping the youth with skills and expertise to contribute to national development.
Who is James Kipsiele Tembur?
James Kipsiele Tembur is a career civil servant who has served in various capacities in the public sector for over 20 years. He joined the NYS in 2017 as the deputy director-general in charge of administration and finance. Prior to that, he worked as the director of administration at the Ministry of Interior and Coordination of National Government, where he was involved in the implementation of the national security strategy and the coordination of county governments. He also served as the deputy county commissioner in several counties, including Turkana, Baringo, and Nakuru.
Tembur holds a master’s degree in public administration from the University of Nairobi and a bachelor’s degree in education from Moi University. He is also a graduate of the National Defence College, where he completed a course on national security and strategic studies. He is married and has four children.
What are the challenges and opportunities facing the NYS?
The NYS is one of the oldest and largest youth empowerment agencies in Kenya, established in 1964 to provide vocational training, civic education, and national service to young Kenyans aged 18 to 22. The NYS operates under the Ministry of Public Service, Youth and Gender Affairs, and has a budget of over 10 billion shillings ($90 million) for the 2023/2024 financial year. The NYS has over 30,000 recruits and 6,000 staff, and runs various projects across the country, such as road construction, afforestation, slum upgrading, food security, and disaster response.
However, the NYS has also faced several challenges and controversies in recent years, such as corruption scandals, mismanagement, poor governance, and human rights violations. In 2018, the NYS was rocked by a massive fraud case involving the loss of over 9 billion shillings ($81 million) through fictitious payments to suppliers and contractors.
The scandal led to the arrest and prosecution of several senior officials, including the former director-general Richard Ndubai and the former principal secretary Lilian Omollo. In 2019, the NYS was accused of mistreating and abusing its recruits, resulting in deaths, injuries, and suicides. The NYS was also criticized for its lack of transparency, accountability, and oversight, as well as its politicization and militarization.
Personal Life and Family
Little is known about the personal life and family of James Kipsiele Tembur, as he prefers to keep them private and away from the media. He has not disclosed his date or place of birth, his educational background, his marital status, or his number of children.
He is also not active on social media platforms and does not share much about his hobbies or interests. However, he is known to be a devout Christian and a humble and respectful person. He is also said to be a hardworking and dedicated public servant, who is passionate about the NYS and the youth of Kenya.
Net worth and Salary
The net worth and salary of James Kipsiele Tembur are also unknown, as he has not revealed them to the public. However, as the Director General and CEO of the NYS, he is likely to earn a substantial amount of money, as well as enjoy various perks and benefits.
According to a report by the Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC) in 2021, the basic salary of the NYS Director General was Ksh 765,188 per month, and the total remuneration package was Ksh 1,022,508 per month. However, these figures may have changed since then, as the SRC recommended a 40% salary increase for the NYS and other police services in 2023.
James Kipsiele Tembur is a Kenyan public servant and the current Director General and CEO of the NYS, a state corporation that provides paramilitary training, technical skills, and community service to the youth of Kenya. He was appointed to this position in December 2023, after serving as the Deputy Director General and the acting Director General of the NYS. He has been working at the NYS since at least 2018, and has been involved in various initiatives and programs at the NYS. He is also responsible for overseeing the operations, management, and development of the NYS, and ensuring that it fulfills its mandate of providing training, skills, and service to the youth of Kenya. He is expected to uphold the values of integrity, accountability, and transparency at the NYS, and to prevent any recurrence of corruption or mismanagement.
