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Member of Parliament, Starehe
Born
1988(38 yrs)
Region
Nairobi
Constituency
Starehe
Public Views
Experience
Documented career positions
Amos Mwago Maina (born 1988) is a Kenyan politician and Certified Public Accountant who has served as Member of Parliament for Starehe Constituency in Nairobi City County since the August 2022 General Election. He won the seat on a Jubilee Party (Azimio) ticket, defeating former MP Simon Mbugua of UDA in a high-profile “giant-slayer” race, with official results showing he garnered about 50,700 votes to Mbugua’s 35,000. Mwago grew up in the inner-city environment of Starehe, particularly around Gikomba market, and has often credited well-wishers and bursaries for helping him stay in school after being raised by a single mother—experiences he now cites when arguing for stronger social protection and youth support in urban constituencies. Before entering national politics, Mwago built a profile as a businessman and finance professional. He has been Chief Executive Officer of Emirates Shoe Shop since 2009 and previously served as Director of Mareamo Enterprises from 2006 to 2009, while qualifying as a CPA(K) and specialising in accounting, economic analysis, debt management, risk management and capital budgeting. In the 13th Parliament he has become one of the more outspoken young MPs in Nairobi, frequently criticising government fiscal policy, pushing for fairer electoral processes and positioning himself as a vocal defender of low-income urban residents in matters such as demolitions and public services
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Winning one of Nairobi’s most competitive seats: In the 2022 General Election, Mwago captured Starehe—an historically high-profile, central Nairobi constituency—on a Jubilee Party ticket, defeating well-known UDA candidate Simon Mbugua in a closely watched race. The win consolidated his reputation as a young “giant slayer” capable of overcoming better-connected and better-financed opponents.
Winning one of Nairobi’s most competitive seats: In the 2022 General Election, Mwago captured Starehe—an historically high-profile, central Nairobi constituency—on a Jubilee Party ticket, defeating well-known UDA candidate Simon Mbugua in a closely watched race. The win consolidated his reputation as a young “giant slayer” capable of overcoming better-connected and better-financed opponents.
Election petition challenging his 2022 win: Mwago’s victory in Starehe was contested at the High Court in Election Petition No. E001 of 2022, with opponents alleging irregularities including bribery. In March 2023, the court upheld his election, finding that the poll had been conducted in line with electoral law and that the allegations were not proved; related documents also appear in IEBC and Gazette records.
Summons over alleged hate speech and ethnic contempt: In early 2025, the National Cohesion and Integration Commission (NCIC) reportedly summoned Mwago and other leaders over alleged inflammatory remarks, with some commentaries specifically accusing him of hate speech and ethnic contempt. Reports note that while some other politicians ignored the summons, Mwago complied and appeared before NCIC. As of November 2025, no formal sanction or conviction has been publicly reported.
News articles featuring Amos Mwago
Strong voice on fiscal justice and governance: Mwago has emerged as a prominent critic of controversial tax and finance proposals, notably the Finance Bill 2024, where he publicly disclosed what he described as blackmail and threats around the vote and argued that the current Parliament risks being remembered as “hijacked by the Executive.”
Advocacy on elections, cohesion and anti-corruption: He has repeatedly pressed the IEBC to guarantee credible polls—most recently ahead of November 2025 mini-polls—and is listed as an active member of the African Parliamentarians Network Against Corruption (APNAC), taking part in strategy and media engagements on integrity in public life.
Criticism for confrontational political rhetoric: His strongly worded attacks on President William Ruto, senior governors and the National Assembly Speaker—accusing them of divisiveness, bias or undermining Parliament—have attracted pushback from government allies, who frame his style as overly combative and populist, even as supporters describe it as principled oversight.
Debate over money in Nairobi politics: In an October 2022 interview, Mwago stated that he spent approximately KSh 50 million on his Starehe campaign and remarked that “Nairobi politics is about money,” sparking debate about the role of big spending and whether such costs shut ordinary citizens out of competitive races—even though no illegality was alleged.
