Ukur Yatani Kanacho is a Kenyan politician and an ambassador. Yatani Kanacho was appointed as Treasury Secretary on 14th January, 2020.
From 2013 to 2017, Yatani Kanacho served as the First Governor of Marsabit County and was the Permanent Representative to the United Nations in Vienna from 2009 to 2012. Yatani Kanacho also served as the Member of Parliament for North Horr Constituency in 2006. In 2019, Yatani served as the Cabinent Secretary for Labour and Social Protection. Yatani Kanacho was named Cabinent Secretary or the National Treasury in 2020.
Age
Yatani Kanacho was born in 1967, in Forole of North Horr sub-county.
Wife
Yatani got married to Dr. Gumato Yatani and the two have been blessed with adobale children.
Education
In 1975, Yatani Kanacho started school in Maikona and was then transferred to North Horr Primary school. Ukur sat for his Certificate of Primary Education (CPE) in 1981 and managed to be the top student in the then Marsabit District. Yatani Kanacho was given a scholarship by Jomo Kenyatta Foundation where he joined Garbatulla High school where he equally performed well and joined Kabarnet High school later for his ‘A’ levels from 1986 to 1987. Yatani earned his Bachelor of Arts in Economics and Sociology from Egerton University in 1991. Ukur joined the University of York, United Kingdom and pursued a Master of Public Administration and Public Policy.
Political Career
Yatani became a District Officer for the Government of Kenya and rose through the ranks from District Officer Cadet to a Senior District Officer and in July 2002, promoted to a District Commissioner. Ukur successfully coordinated state business, managed government resources, maintained law and order, directed disaster relief operations, and implemented long term strategic plans that improved government services and the lives of local residents in his position. Yatani was then called home by his constituents and elected as the MP for North Horr constituency in 2006. During this time the Marsabit North District was created and Member of Parliament Ukur spearheaded the formation of several administrative units across the constituency, leading to more independence and general improvement of service delivery to residents.
Yatani Kanacho was then appointed as the Assistant Minister, Ministry of Science and Technology and in this position Yatani offered policy direction to the ministry, represented the government in local and international talks and negotiations, and helped the Minister in performing of all ministerial and government functions.
He began a multi-year mission to advance the interests of Kenya on the international stage in 2009. Ukur Yatani was named Ambassador to Austria in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and Kenya’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Vienna. As the Ambassador to Austria, Yatani provided support and consular services to Kenyans living abroad and promoted trade and economic cooperation with a variety of European nations and thereby contributed to the realization of Kenya’s Vision 2030 with accreditation to Hungary and Slovakia. Ambassador Ukur also served as the Board of Governors of the International Atomic Energy Agency for the International Atomic Energy Agency, which works to promote the peaceful use of nuclear energy around the world. One of the many accomplishments of the IAEA during Ukur’s tenure, was the strategic use of strength and diplomacy to deescalate and safeguard nuclear capacity of Iran.
He held senior leadership positions at various diplomatic and international agencies at the United Nations. Ukur chaired the African Group of Ambassadors. Marsabit local elections he was elected to pioneer the devolved County Government becoming the leader of the largest county in the nation in the 2013. Yatani was tasked with building the newly formed county from scratch, as the Marsabit County Governor. He was the chief executive that brought peace, development and economic prosperity to the region. The Marsabit County Headquarters were built by Governor Ukur Yatani. Ambassador Yatani provided strategic leadership, guidance and oversight in setting up devolved governance structures, competent financial and human resource infrastructure and shaped the development agenda of Marsabit County during his time as the Governor. Ukur promoted harmonious coexistence and cohesion among the fifteen indigenous ethnic communities and made Marsabit County to be among the most peaceful in the country throughout his term.
Ukur set out on an ambitious development journey and steered the roll-out of the County Integrated Development Plan which included a variety of major initiatives, such as the construction of other county offices, a four storey market, new modern stadium, over a dozen health centers and new tourist resort facility and two hundred ECD classrooms. Ukur upgraded 5,000 kilometers of gravel roads, tarmacked Marsabit town roads, and drilling & operationalizing over 50 boreholes while still working as a governor. Ukur established two referral hospitals, and purchased two dozen ambulances during his tenure. Ukur oversaw the installation of solar-based street lighting and drainage systems and stimulated an economic revival through investments in agriculture and livestock. Yatani heavily supported cultural festivals and the Lake Turkana Cultural Festival was nominated for India’s prestigious Tagore Award throughout his time. He danced at the Lake Turkana Cultural Festival.
He created strategic partnerships with the national government and major investors to bring two new roads to the county, and the largest wind power plant in Africa. In addition, Yatani spearheaded a UNDP funded unique cross border program bringing jobs and billions of shillings of investment to the region. Ukur also gained major external funding from the African Development Bank to create a livestock quarantine zone, modern abattoir and to develop international export markets for Marsabit’s livestock products.
He was sworn in by the President of the Republic of Kenya, Uhuru Kenyatta for Cabinet Secretary of the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection on 16th February, 2018. President Kenyatta appointed him as the Cabinet Secretary for Treasury on Acting capacity following the sacking of Henry Rotich, on 24th July, 2019. Ukur was confirmed as the Cabinet Secretary on 24 January 2020.
