Najib Balala (born 20 September, 1967) is a Kenyan politician who formerly served as the Cabinet Secretary for Tourism. He traces his ancestral origin to the Hadhrami people of Yemen. M.P. for Mvita Constituency.[1] He was the party leader of The Republican Congress Party of Kenya (RC), a partner of the Jubilee Coalition.[2]
Najib Balala | |
---|---|
نجيب بالعلا | |
Cabinet Secretary for Tourism | |
In office 15 May 2013 – 27 October 2022 | |
President | Uhuru Kenyatta |
Minister for Tourism | |
In office 2008 – March 2012 | |
President | Mwai Kibaki |
Succeeded by | Danson Mwazo |
Member of Parliament for Mvita Constituency | |
In office 2003–2013 | |
Preceded by | Shariff Nassir |
Succeeded by | Abdulswamad Nassir |
Personal details | |
Born | Mombasa, Kenya | 20 September 1967
Political party | Republican Congress |
Spouse | Najaah |
Children | 4 |
Alma mater | US International University |
Website | www |
Born to a family of Hadhrami, Balala attended Serani Boys primary school, and Kakamega High School, a national school.[3] He studied Business Administration and International Urban Management and Leadership at the University of Toronto, and the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University.[4]
Balala began his political career as the Mayor of Mombasa, Kenya.[7] He was then elected to a Mvita parliamentary seat in the 2002 general elections. Prior to that, Balala served as vice-chairman of Kenya Tourism Board (KTB), Chairman of All Local Government Association of Kenya, and Chairman of Mombasa and Coast Tourist Association.[8]
Balala was the longest serving Minister for Tourism, a position he held from the beginning of 2008 until 26 March 2012, when he was dismissed during a cabinet reshuffle.[citation needed] He formed The Republican Congress Party of Kenya (RC) in April 2012 that became a principal partner in the Jubilee Coalition with President Uhuru Kenyatta (TNA), William Samoei Ruto (URP), and Charity Ngilu (Narc).
As Cabinet Secretary for Mining he revoked licenses issued by the previous government. He has been accused of corruption by Cortec Mining for requesting a bribe of nearly $1 million for the reissuing of the license.
In December 2023, he, along with former principal secretary Leah Addah Gwiyo, and managing partner of West Consults John Odero, was accused of inflating the cost of the project to build a tourism college and arrested. He was the first former minister to be arrested on corruption charges since William Ruto was elected in 2022 on a platform of fighting corruption.[9][10]