Atwoli’s Wife Mary Kilobi Shortlisted For Top State Job In Devolution Committee

Prominent Swahili news anchor and author Mary Kilobi, the wife of Central Organisation of Trade Unions (COTU) Secretary General Francis Atwoli, is in the running for a senior state appointment.

Kilobi is among the 65 candidates successfully shortlisted by a recruitment panel to interview for a membership position within the Intergovernmental Relations Technical Committee (IGRTC).

According to a public notice released on Wednesday, May 20, 2026, the selection panel has scheduled the competitive interviews to run from June 8 to June 18, 2026. Kilobi and her fellow applicants successfully cleared the preliminary vetting requirements, vying for one of the seven vacant member positions within the state agency.

What is the IGRTC?

The IGRTC is a vital public service body established under the Intergovernmental Relations Act of 2012. Operating at the national level, the committee plays a critical role in Kenya’s devolution framework.

Its primary responsibilities include:

• Fostering consultation, cooperation, and coordination between the national government and the 47 county governments.

• Resolving intergovernmental disputes.

• Harmonizing public policies and operations to ensure smooth governance across the devolved units.

From the Newsroom to Public Service

Kilobi boasts an extensive career in broadcast journalism, most notably serving as a long-time Swahili news anchor for KTN, a television station owned by the Standard Group.

Her professional and academic portfolio includes, a Bachelor’s degree in Literature and Kiswahili from Makerere University in Uganda, a Master’s degree in International Relations from the University of Nairobi, early career experience as a news anchor at the state-owned Uganda Broadcasting Corporation (UBC).

It was during her tenure in Uganda that she reportedly met COTU boss Francis Atwoli. The couple later formalized their union in August 2018 through a traditional Luhya wedding ceremony.

Should her upcoming interview prove successful, the veteran journalist will pivot from the newsroom into state bureaucracy, taking on a hands-on role in managing the complex dynamics of Kenya’s devolved system of government.