Mutahi Kagwe's Failed Governor Bid That Defined Him

Health CS Mutahi Kagwe launches the Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH) Diagnostic and Reporting Centre, Nairobi in February 2020 as Health CAS Dr Mercy Mwangangi (behind) watches
Health CS Mutahi Kagwe launches the Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH) Diagnostic and Reporting Centre, Nairobi in February 2020 as Health CAS Dr Mercy Mwangangi (behind) watches
File

Health CS Mutahi Kagwe is currently right up there with the most popular people in the country, enjoying a fairly high approval rating.

He recently earned international recognition after New York-based publication the Wall Street Journal recognised him as a hero in the fight against Covid-19.

However, CS Kagwe was written off by many political competitors after he disappeared from the public for 2 years following is failed attempt to become Nyeri County's governor in 2017.

Health Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe (Left) and his Chief Administrative Secretary Mercy Mwangangi during a press briefing in March 2020.
Health Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe (Left) and his Chief Administrative Secretary Mercy Mwangangi during a press briefing in March 2020.
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His bid to clinch the Jubilee ticket was marked with pomp and colour as the man who had become his hometown's first-ever Senator back in 2013 - a habit of being a man of many firsts follows him to date.

Donned in the red Jubilee Party colours, Kagwe danced alongside a group of women from his hometown before going on to announce that he was eyeing the top seat in the county.

This came in the same year in which he lost his close friend and confidant, Nderitu Gachagua (Nyeri's first-ever governor), to pancreatic cancer

"I am here to announce from the outset that I will be contesting the gubernatorial seat for Nyeri County on a Jubilee Party ticket as you can see," a confident Kagwe announced at the time.

However, he never made it past the party nominations after battling it out with former Governors Samuel Wamathai and Wahome Gakuru (now deceased) for the coveted party ticket.

He had the option of still contesting for the seat via an independent party ticket as was the trend in the country at the time, backed by the fact that he was popular during his time as the county's senator.

However, speaking to Kenyans.co.ke, an insider from his campaign team disclosed that Kagwe decided not follow the independent candidacy route following a special request from President Uhuru Kenyatta, who assured him that better things lay ahead for him down the line.

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Known for his patient and calm demeanour, Kagwe retreated from the public eye for close to 2 years.

He then marked his grand comeback in October 2019, when he was appointed to the board of the Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (EPRA).

Kagwe was then the talk of the town a month later on November 15 at the famous Sagana State Lodge meeting, when he was appointed as the master of ceremony at the event presided over by the President, which convinced most political commentators that he was being groomed for a bigger role in the Jubilee-led government.

Two months later (February 28, 2020), he took over the reins at the health docket from outgoing CS Sicily Kariuki, and he has been lauded ever since for how he has handled the Covid-19 pandemic.

Notably, former President Mwai Kibaki appointed him to his Cabinet as Minister for Information Communication and Technology (ICT) back in 2005.

It was during his tenure as ICT Minister that Kenya embraced Fibre Optic technology that would see a drastic drop in call tariffs.

It was also during his tenure that Safaricom's M-Pesa was launched, the first-of-its-kind mobile money transfer system in the world.

It's safe to refer to the current Health CS as the 'man of many firsts'.

Ministry of Health Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe addresses the media
Ministry of Health Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe addresses the media from the Mbagathi District Hospital on Friday, March 6, 2020
Simon Kiragu
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