Paul Mutungi's rise from hawker to Nairobi County deputy governor

Just before becoming one of the youngest councillors in Kenya in 1997, Nairobi County Deputy Governor-designate Paul Mutunga Mutungi was a hawker in Gikomba.

Twenty-four years later, he is just a step away from becoming the second in command in Nairobi after MCAs approved his nomination by Governor Ann Kananu as deputy governor.

The ward representatives overwhelmingly approved Mr Mutungi, with 89 MCAs voting in the affirmative, paving the way for his eventual swearing-in. This was done in less than six hours.

Nonetheless, the journey to the top was not as rosy as the events of Thursday. After finishing his Form Four exams at Aquinas Boys High School in 1993, obtaining a mean grade of C+, the 47-year-old started selling “small wares” in Gikomba.

While hawking, he says, the urge to get into elective politics would often cross his mind as the people of Mbotela ward would call upon him to represent them as a councillor.

He finally accepted the challenge and in the 1997 General Election, he threw his hat into the ring.

He would then be elected as a councillor at the tender age of 23, catapulting him to the beginning of his stint in public service.

“I started serving the public in 1997 as a young boy fresh from school. I did not qualify to go to (university) because of the high threshold and so I ventured into business in Gikomba Market. That is when I caught the bug for leadership,” narrates Mr Mutungi.

Embakasi South parliamentary seat

“I served them diligently and they again elected me in 2002, and then in 2007, I was nominated by PNU as councillor.”

He would in 2017 unsuccessfully contest the Embakasi South parliamentary seat, losing to the current legislator Julius Mawathe.

“In between, I vied for mayor of Nairobi and lost to Godfrey Majiwa by one vote. In 2017, I also vied for the position of Speaker and again lost to the late Alex Ole Magelo by one vote,” he says.

Born on August 5, 1974, the deputy governor-nominee holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in disaster management and international diplomacy from Masinde Muliro University, graduating in 2015.

In 2020, he would be appointed director of the Nairobi Liquor Board, charged with developing county policies relating to the production, manufacture, sale and consumption of alcoholic drinks, as well as supporting and facilitating the sub-county liquor committees in carrying out their functions.

But before then, Mr Mutungi also served as director at the Nairobi City Water and Sewerage Company.

He is now the chief of staff, serving as the private secretary to Governor Kananu responsible for the overall administration of the governor’s office.

This is in addition to supervising political appointees as well as the governor’s strategy and delivery units, among other duties.

Mr Mutungi was appointed to the position in January by the then acting Governor Benson Mutura, replacing Brian Mugo.

The Thika-born man is worth between Sh80 million and Sh100 million, assets that he says were derived from his long service to the public and investments.

Land scandals

During his vetting by the Nairobi County Assembly’s Appointments Committee, he was taken to task over damning memoranda received by the panel from the Concerned Citizen Alliance contesting his suitability for the deputy governor’s position.

The documents cited corruption cases in the Anti-Corruption and Economic Crimes Division court in Nairobi and being allegedly adversely mentioned in different land scandals in Nairobi, including evictions in Kayole and World Bank Housing projects in Makongeni.

But he defended himself, saying he had never received a bribe or solicited any, never dealt with land matters and had no interest in such issues.

Mr Mutungi added that all land he owns is either inherited or purchased and he has nothing to do with public land.

“Whatever was tabled before you is not known to me because I don’t deal with land matters at all. I have never been interested in any land in Kayole nor have I ever interfered with housing matters in Makongeni,” said the 47-year-old.

“Although my interest is in real estate, I can assure this committee that all the land I have either I inherited or purchased through the normal way.”

The committee also supported him in its report, saying while he has been charged in a court of law, the matter is still pending in court.

The committee also dismissed the memoranda against his nomination raised via a letter and not a statement on oath (affidavit) as is required.

Stellar track record

“There is no proof or evidence … provided by the memoranda on the existence of a court case, its facts, its decision, or if the nominee has been found personally culpable,” says part the report.

Asked by the committee why he thought he should be the next deputy governor of Nairobi, Mr Mutungi said he was the best bet for the position owing to a stellar track record in public service.

He pointed out that he diligently served the defunct city council in various positions, from councillor for 15 years and director at the Nairobi Water Company and the Nairobi Liquor Board to chairperson of the finance committee during his time as a councillor.

“I have the education and skills to serve Nairobi diligently as their deputy governor and as the principal adviser to the governor,” he said.

The committee recommended his appointment, saying he was suitable and qualified.

The deputy governor’s position has been vacant since Ms Kananu vacated the office after her swearing-in as the substantive governor of Nairobi on November 16. Mr Mutungi is now just a swearing-in away from becoming the deputy governor