Mary Muthoni Muriuki

Ms. Mary Muthoni Muriuki, CBS, is the Principal Secretary, State Department for Public Health and Professional Standards. She has recently been elected as the Chairperson of African Permanent and Principal Secretaries for Health and is also serving as the Chairperson of the Kenya Coordinating Mechanism for the Global Fund Grant and the Health Sector Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) Budget Working Groups. She previously served as Principal Secretary for Correctional Services and as the Dean of the Principal Secretaries up to 2025. Before her appointment as Principal Secretary, she served as the President and Chief Executive Officer of Women in Business Kenya (WIB). Ms. Mary also served as a Director at the Kenya National Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KNCCI), where she made history as the first woman to be elected to the position since the organization’s establishment in 1965. She is also a member of the Kenya Private Sector Alliance (KEPSA). During this period, she worked closely with reputable international and local organizations, including the World Trade Organization (WTO) and the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), coordinating various trade initiatives on behalf of the private sector. She has served in various institutions and community organizations, including the Tobacco Control Board and as Vice Chair of the Kirinyaga Investment and Development Authority. Ms. Mary is an all-round public sector leader inspired by the belief that a progressive society depends on a facilitative government. She also deeply appreciates the health sector, its global and local challenges, and the opportunities it presents for socio-economic growth. She holds a Master’s degree in Business Administration (MBA) from Baraton University. She has received various recognitions and awards, including the Chief of the Order of the Burning Spear (CBS), the Head of State Commendation (HSC) for community service, the Uzalendo Award, Instinct Women’s Award (2026), SDGs Award 2025 Winner, Regional Winner East Africa by CEO Global Pan African Awards (2019), Africa Business Leaders Award in Gender (2018), and the Devolution Warrior Award – Gender Responsive Delivery Category (2017).