Health Chief Administrative Secretary, Mercy Mwangangi's coordination with her boss Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe, in the fight against the Coronavirus disease (Covid-19), has raised her profile and cemented her name on the memory of Kenyans.
In an interview with KTN News on April 25, Mwangangi disclosed that she comes from a scholarly and hard-working family, as she revealed how she declined three job offers before President Uhuru Kenyatta appointed her to the health docket.
"My mother is a lawyer and my father is a businessman," the CAS disclosed.
Her mother, Dr Florence Muoti Mwangangi, 57, is the Speaker of the County Assembly of Machakos, under Governor Alfred Mutua.
She ascended to the role in 2017, through a Wiper ticket, after the party leader, Kalonzo Musyoka fronted her against Benard Mung'ata, the Maendeleo Chap Chap candidate and Governor Mutua's choice. She garnered 41 out of 59 votes.
The lawyer, however, has worked closely with the governor in running the county, as lauded by Machakos County Director of Communications, Mutinda Mwanzia.
"She is a very efficient leader and that can be seen through her policies. She is always available and is a very co-operative leader, a role model.
"In her Speaker's role, she has given support to the governor thus smoothening the collaboration with the executive," Mutinda stated while speaking with Kenyans.co.ke.
The University of Nairobi School of Law alumnus has over two decades of experience in law and runs her own private firm, Mwangangi and Company Advocates.
She is a former member of the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) and former Chair of Public Complaints Commission.
In the JSC, the Alliance Girls High School alumnus represented the Law Society of Kenya (LSK), during the reign of retired Chief Justice Dr Willy Mutunga. She was among the team that spearheaded reforms in the Judiciary.
In 2016, she was shortlisted as a candidate for the Chairmanship of the Independent Elections and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) in a process that saw current chair Wafula Chebukati appointed.
“The electorate expects us to be accountable, honest and mindful about their welfare, and it is our duty and responsibility to deliver that to the latter,”Dr. Muoti stated in her first speech as Speaker.
