President Ruto Dismisses Seth Panyako from LAPFUND Board

President William Ruto has dismissed Seth Panyako from the board of the Local Authorities Provident Fund (LAPFUND), with the decision taking effect immediately.The dismissal was announced through a gazette notice issued by the government, in which President Ruto, acting through Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi, revoked Panyako’s appointment as a member of the LAPFUND board.

The notice did not give reasons for the decision, stating only that the revocation was effective upon publication.Panyako’s removal comes just weeks after he suffered a political setback, having lost the Malava parliamentary seat in the November 27, 2025, by-election.

His defeat marked a significant moment in his political career, as he had been a prominent figure in national labour and political circles.LAPFUND is a statutory pension scheme that manages retirement benefits for employees of county governments and other local authorities.

Members of its board play a critical role in overseeing the management of members’ contributions, investments, and overall governance of the fund.

Changes to the board are therefore closely watched, given the fund’s importance to public sector workers.While the government has not officially linked Panyako’s dismissal to his recent electoral loss, the timing has sparked public discussion and speculation about the broader political implications of the move.

Analysts note that board appointments and revocations often reflect shifting political priorities and administrative decisions within government.As of now, no replacement has been named to fill the vacancy left by Panyako’s exit. It is expected that the appointing authority will announce a new board member in due course to ensure continuity in the fund’s operations.Panyako has not publicly commented on his dismissal at the time of publication.