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Dr. Juma Mukhwana, CBS
PS - State Department for Industry

Dr. Juma Mukhwana, CBS was appointed the Principal Secretary for the State Department of Industry in the Ministry of Investments, Trade, and Industry (MITI), in December 2022. He is the immediate former Director General of The Kenya National Qualifications Authority (KNQA); from where he also worked to support the development of the African Continental Qualifications Framework (ACQF). Dr. Mukhwana has worked in the agriculture and higher education sectors both locally and internationally for many years. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Veterinary Medicine (1993) and M.Sc. in Pharmacology and Toxicology (1995) both from the University Of Nairobi, Kenya, and a Ph.D. in Soil Science from the University of Wyoming in the USA.
He has worked in top management either as a CEO, and/or Deputy CEO in the public and private sectors for over 20 years. Between 2011 and 2013, he worked as a Senior Lecturer and Chairman of the Department of Land and Water Management (and Acting Dean, School of Agriculture), University of Embu. From 2013 to 2017 he served as the Deputy Commission Secretary/Deputy CEO at the Commission for University Education in Kenya; in charge of Planning, Research and Development. 
At the State Department for Industrialization, he has been instrumental in developing and implementing policies to support local manufacturing. These include the introduction of County Aggregation and Industrial parks (CAIPs), promotion of local content in manufacturing, supporting the Buy Kenya, Build Kenya Initiative, and facilitating the revival and invigoration of value addition in the leather, textiles and other agricultural products. He is also spearheading the expansion of manufacturing in cement, and steel; as well promoting local assembly of vehicles and motorcycles. He represents the country in the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO); and is working to promote increased manufacturing within the East African (through EAC) and African regions (through the AfCTA). His main drive lies in his efforts to improve the conditions for manufacturing within Kenya and Africa, so as to bring prosperity and inclusiveness. This is in line with the Kenya Kwanza manifesto of growing manufacturing from the current 7.2% to 15% of GDP by 2025.
 Dr. Mukhwana is an accomplished Leader, passionate speaker and powerful change agent. He has received many national and international awards for his work in creating prosperity and improving livelihoods for poor people in Africa.