Health Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe has emerged as one of the biggest names in the country's political scene since his appointment to the docket on February 28, 2020.
His achievements have since attracted international attention, with the CS featuring in a report by US publication, Wall Street Journal, on April 4, 2020, as a hero in the fight against Covid-19, proceeded by reports that he may be considering returning to elective politics in 2022.
Speaking to Kenyans.co.ke, renowned Political Analyst Professor Herman Manyora opined that the fight against the pandemic had done the CS's reputation a great deal.
He maintained that on a national level, Kagwe had become popular, however, noted that local politics had petty considerations before selecting an individual despite a remarkable track or performance record.
"Mutahi Kagwe even as a Minister in charge of ICT under the Kibaki government, he did very well. But local politics has little respect for performance. You can be a sterling performer but it may not respect that very much.
"For that reason, although the pandemic has made him shine, at the national level, that can really help him, but local politics is very difficult. People don't care. There arise talks of where is this person from, which clan. Very petty considerations," Manyora stated.
He stated that crises do make some people, and Kagwe had been made by one which became an opening for him.
"As far as national politics is concerned, his place is assured. If you are looking at people who can be in the next dispensation from Mount Kenya region, then you are looking at Kagwe, Anne Waiguru, Peter Kenneth, and Peter Munya, and every day his profile keeps going higher and higher," Manyora opined.
"Before the appointment, he was nowhere, but now he has joined them and with time he could outshine them," he added.
Kenyans.co.ke learnt that Kagwe's popularity had also been the subject of debate in Nyeri County.
Speaking to Kenyans.co.ke, 2017 Nyeri County gubernatorial aspirant Patrick Munene Kairu acknowledged that Mutahi was a good communicator, adding to his profile as a good leader.
"He is quite a capable guy, and he is quite sober as well. We can all see he has fit in well into his new role which he took up when there was a major crisis,
"As to how he will perform in the ministry depends on how much support he will get from the public as well as the government in dispensing his duties," Munene stated.
Gichohi, a resident of Nyeri who also spoke to Kenyans.co.ke informed that the CS's profile had tremendously increased in the area following his recent exploits.
This is regardless of the CS serving as an MP for Mukurweini Constituency and as the first Senator of Nyeri County, before losing out to Wahome Gakuru in the Jubilee primaries in 2017.
Mutahi came fourth in the elections, but Gichohi informed that he had raised his profile to potentially be the biggest political name in Nyeri at the moment.
"The dynamics have changed, and he won't fit in local politics. He is on television every day, he's gone national now and there is a buzz in Nyeri, and he is like our pride. I see him positioned more nationally than locally," Gichohi stated.
Addressing the political tension Mutahi has sent through Nyeri, Gichohi noted that the balance now has to change and the power play in the region has shifted, with the CS being a senior force.
"Nyerians don't go for the national hype. People would still look at you as the local guy. Wangari Maathai won a Nobel Peace Prize but people rejected her. Look at Esther Murugi (former Nyeri Town MP), she was defeated by Ngunjiri Wambugu, somebody who was even in ODM," Gichohi stated.
John Wanjau, another Nyeri resident opined that Mutahi had garnered the faith of people in the region and they were willing to back his bid for higher office.
He acknowledged that Mutahi's profile had gone beyond the local political scene and would be better off at the national stage, alleging he was being groomed for a bigger seat.
"I think some of the people contending for the gubernatorial seat at the moment are tense since Kagwe has been stealing all the limelight. I also say the president is grooming him to be someone bigger than just a governor," Wanjau stated.
"He should not consider local politics, he is being moulded for a bigger role, like a prime minister," he added.
