Ruth Kagia is currently working as an international development consultant/advisor with several agencies including the World Bank.
Between 2014-2022, Ruth Kagia served as the Senior Advisor/Deputy Chief of Staff in the Executive Office of the President of Kenya. In this role she led the management of the President’s flagship and international development cooperation programmes and engagements. In her concurrent role as the Head of the Presidential Policy and Strategy Unit, she led a team of technical experts to anchor, incubate and coordinate the President’s priority programmes.
Prior to returning to the Government in 2014, Ms. Kagia worked at the World Bank from 1990-2013 during which she held various positions including serving as the World Bank Global Director for Education (2002-2008). In this role, she spearheaded the establishment of the Global Partnership for Education (formerly known as the Fast-Track Initiative), which is currently the largest global fund dedicated to transforming education in lower-income countries. In 2008-2012 she served as the World Bank Country Director for Southern Africa (South Africa, Botswana, Namibia, Swaziland, Lesotho as well as Mauritius and Madagascar). Before joining the World Bank, Ms. Kagia worked with the Kenya Government in teaching, education management, and research.
Ms. Kagia holds degrees from the University of Nairobi, Kenya, and the Harvard Graduate School of Education, USA.
