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Governor of Nyeri County
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Mutahi Kahiga is a Kenyan public servant currently serving his second elected term as Governor of Nyeri County, having first assumed the post in November 2017 following the untimely death of his predecessor Wahome Gakuru. Before moving fully into elective politics he spent more than thirty years in the education sector—first as a teacher, then as a headmaster and union official with the Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT) where he rose to become executive secretary for the Mt. Kenya branch. As governor, Kahiga has emphasised infrastructure, health and education delivery, as well as financial accountability in county government. Under his leadership Nyeri County received top marks in the World Bank–supported Devolution Support Programme for financial integrity. He also pursued advanced education concurrently with his public office, culminating in a doctorate in Leadership and Education Management from Kenya Methodist University in October 2024.
Improved County Governance & Financial Management – Under his leadership Nyeri County rose to the top spot in the World Bank-supported Devolution Support Programme assessment for financial integrity, planning, monitoring and evaluation.
He faced audit scrutiny when the Senate Committee on County Public Investment and Special Funds summoned him over financial‐irregularities at the county’s two water services companies (NYEWASCO and OMWASCO) covering fiscal years 2018/19–2020/21, including asset‐register issues and non-compliance with salary-rules.
He drew public backlash in August 2025 for abruptly pushing to relocate matatu (public transport) services within Nyeri town CBD to a new terminus, disrupting many commuters and causing a standoff with transport operators who argued inadequate public participation.
News articles featuring Mutahi Kahiga
In October 2025 he made remarks during a funeral that were widely interpreted as celebrating the death of Raila Odinga, causing national outrage, official condemnation by Council of Governors and his removal as its Vice-Chair. He later issued an apology.
