Mutahi Kahwe has been thrown into the limelight once again, after Kikuyu elders endorsed him for the Interior Cabinet Secretary position.
This comes after the hurried impeachment of Rigathi Gachagua, and the appointment of Kindiki Kithure, the immediate former Interior CS, to the second-in-command position.
The Interior CS position remains vacant, with Mount Kenya leaders close to the presidency pressuring President William Ruto to consider one of their own for the position.
If appointed, Mutahi Kagwe will be joining cabinet for the third time, having served as Health Cabinet Secretary during former President Uhuru’s tenure, and Minister for Information Communication and Technology (ICT) during former President Kibaki’s presidency.
Early life
Mutahi Kagwe was born in January 1958 in Mukurweini, in Nyeri County, and he attended Kihate Primary School, before proceeding to Kagumo High School for his “O” levels. As of 2024, Kagwe is 66 years old.
After his secondary studies, Kagwe joined the University of Nairobi in 1978 to pursue a Bachelor of Commerce (Insurance) degree, where he graduated in 1981. Later in 2002, he joined the United States International University-Africa (USIU) for a Master’s in Business Administration.
His family
Kagwe is a family man, and he is married to Anne Wanjiku Mutahi, a daughter of the late Transport Minister John Michuki, now deceased. The couple is blessed with four children, among them Kagwe Mburu, popularly known as Kahush.
Kahush rose to prominence during Covid period, and Kagwe acknowledged he is his last born son, and listens to his music. Some of his popular hits include Mi Siwezi, Maisha, When I Rap, and Fika.
Mutahi Kagwe’s Net Worth
In documents tabled in Parliament following his appointment to Uhuru’s cabinet, Kagwe put his wealth at Ksh.667.8 million, putting him among the wealthiest Kenyans.
He disclosed that he owns two companies, Tell-EM, a public relations company and TNS RMS East Africa, a research agency. He noted that he started his companies while still a student at the University of Nairobi.
Career
Before throwing his hat into the political ring, he briefly worked at the Standard Group along Mombasa Road. He was the commercial director in the advertising department from 1987 to 1989.
He also engaged in private businesses both in his Nyeri backyard, and in Nairobi, where he established an independent publishing house and a public relations agency.
In 2002, he contested for the Member of Parliament (MP) for Mukurweini Constituency, which he won under the National Alliance Rainbow Coalition (NARC) ticket. Mwai Kibaki won the 2002 Presidential election on a NARC party ticket.
As MP, he also served as Chair of the Finance, Trade, Tourism, and Planning parliamentary committee.
Later in 2005, President Mwai Kibaki appointed him to head the Information Communication and Technology ministry, alongside Bitange Ndemo as his Permanent Secretary.
During his tenure as Minister for ICT, Kagwe oversaw the installation of Fibre Optic Cables to replace Satellite Technology, which resulted in increased internet speeds and a drop in call tariffs and internet costs. M-PESA, a revolutionary money transfer system by Safaricom, was also launched during his tenure.
In 2007 General Elections, Kagwe lost his MP seat to Kabando Wa Kabando, and retreated to private life. In 2013 General Elections, he was elected the First Senator of Nyeri County, and he also chaired the Senate Committee on Information and Technology.
In 2017, Kagwe contested for the Nyeri gubernatorial seat, but lost to the late Wahome Gakuru. He stayed in the political cold until October 2019, when President Uhuru appointed him to the board of the Energy and Petroleum Authority (EPRA).
In February 2022, President Uhuru elevated Kagwe to the cabinet, appointing him the Cabinet Secretary for Health to replace Sicily Kariuki, who was transferred to the Water Ministry.
Soon after his appointment to the health docket, COVID19 was declared a pandemic, and he was required to spearhead Kenya’s COVID-19 response, and he held regular media briefings on new infections, fatalities, and new government measures.
Recent endorsement to join cabinet
Following the impeachment of Rigathi Gachagua, there are reports of a looming cabinet reshuffle as President Ruto moves to enhance regional representation in his cabinet.
Among the notable people expected to join cabinet is Mutahi Kagwe, who has been in the political cold since the 2022 General Elections.
Last week, Kikuyu elders invited Mutahi Kagwe for traditional prayers, where they endorsed him to join Ruto’s Cabinet. They noted that Kagwe’s long public service career and proven track record makes him suitable for the Interior CS position, currently held in acting capacity by the Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi.
Both Kagwe and Gachagua hail from Nyeri County, and after the former DP’s impeachment, Nyeri was left without a seat in Ruto’s Cabinet.