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Member of Parliament, Nyaribari Chache
Zaheer Merhali Jhanda (born 1980) is a Kenyan politician and businessman who has served as Member of Parliament for Nyaribari Chache Constituency in Kisii County since August 2022, elected on a United Democratic Alliance (UDA) ticket. A first-term legislator, he is known for his flamboyant lifestyle, close alignment with President William Ruto, and his bid to overturn entrenched clan-based voting patterns in Kisii politics. Before winning in 2022, he made earlier attempts at the Nyaribari Chache seat on URP (2013) and Jubilee (2017) tickets, narrowly losing, but building name recognition as a youthful, well-resourced aspirant.
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Zaheer Merhali Jhanda (born 1980) is a Kenyan politician and businessman who has served as Member of Parliament for Nyaribari Chache Constituency in Kisii County since August 2022, elected on a United Democratic Alliance (UDA) ticket. A first-term legislator, he is known for his flamboyant lifestyle, close alignment with President William Ruto, and his bid to overturn entrenched clan-based voting patterns in Kisii politics. Before winning in 2022, he made earlier attempts at the Nyaribari Chache seat on URP (2013) and Jubilee (2017) tickets, narrowly losing, but building name recognition as a youthful, well-resourced aspirant. Born and raised in Kisii town, Jhanda attended Kisii Primary School (1986–1993) and Cardinal Otunga High School, Mosocho (1994–1997), and in 2020 enrolled for a Bachelor of Arts degree at Kenya Methodist University while already active in business and politics. He first came to wider national attention as a flashy Kisii businessman with interests in real estate, consultancy and logistics, regularly profiled with high-end cars, helicopters and a self-declared multi-billion-shilling fortune. His election as MP in 2022 was widely reported as “breaking the clanism jinx” in Nyaribari Chache, positioning him as one of the more visible new faces in the President’s inner political circle from the Gusii region.
Highlights that showcase impact and influence.
Breaking clan politics in Nyaribari Chache: In the 2022 General Election, Jhanda won the Nyaribari Chache parliamentary seat on a UDA ticket, with coverage emphasising that he had “broken the clanism jinx” in a constituency long dominated by clan arithmetic and older political families.
Constituency bursary and education programmes: As MP, he has put visibility on bursary distribution, including highly publicised events where he arrives by helicopter to disburse funds to needy students, and has framed education support as a core plank of his constituency service.
Legislative and policy advocacy: In Parliament, Jhanda has positioned himself on issues such as youth welfare and public health, for example publicly pushing for a ban on vape pens and shisha, which he describes as a threat to the next generation, and participating in debates on economic protests and cost of living.
Regional political influence: As a close ally of President Ruto and a visible face of UDA in Kisii, he has played a role in efforts to expand the ruling coalition’s influence in Gusii, publicly floating ideas such as a joint 2027 ticket bringing together UDA and ODM, and frequently appearing at national and regional political events.
A timeline of pivotal roles and responsibilities.
Business career before politics: Built his profile in Kisii as a businessman involved in real estate, consultancy and other ventures, often highlighted in media coverage for his luxury cars, access to high-level politicians and participation in large-ticket deals.
Early political bids (2013, 2017): Joined elective politics around 2012–2013, initially vying for Nyaribari Chache on a URP ticket and later, in 2017, on a Jubilee ticket; he lost both races but cemented his status as a serious contender in constituency politics.
Member of Parliament for Nyaribari Chache (2022–present): Won the seat in August 2022 on a UDA ticket and currently serves in the National Assembly representing Nyaribari Chache, with his parliamentary profile listing his professional background simply as “Business.
Public-facing political brand: Since becoming MP, he has cultivated a high-profile public persona—active on social media, giving interviews on national issues and regularly appearing at rallies—as part of a broader strategy to position himself as a major player in Kisii and national politics.
Key events that have shaped public perception.
Alleged involvement in fake gold scam (UAE/Dubai saga): Jhanda was prominently named in 2019 media coverage as a key “person of interest” in a multi-million-dollar fake gold scandal involving purported shipments to a member of the Dubai royal family. Reports described a consultancy contract tied to several tonnes of gold and suggested the episode strained Kenya–UAE relations. Jhanda has repeatedly denied wrongdoing, insisting that no gold was lost, that the consignment was still in Congo, and that he played only an advisory role.
DCI “person of interest” and media scrutiny: Kenyan media and civil-society reports have noted that detectives at one point profiled him as a person of interest in the Sh250 million gold scam, with outlets publishing images of his flashy lifestyle—including stacks of cash and high-end vehicles—framing him as emblematic of a wider, opaque gold-trading underworld. Jhanda has maintained that he has never defrauded anyone and that the matter has been politicised.
Defamation suits and online allegations: He has sued at least one blogger, Cyprian Nyakundi, over articles linking him and other MPs to alleged fake-gold syndicates, arguing in court that such publications caused him anxiety, damaged his reputation and portrayed him as unfit for public office under Chapter Six of the Constitution.
Public backlash over opulence and politics: Jhanda’s displays of wealth—luxury car collections, helicopter rides, and large cash sums—regularly spark public debate about inequality, ethics and the source of politicians’ wealth. Combined with his central role in the gold-scam narrative, this has made him a polarising figure: admired by some constituents for his largesse and access, and criticised by others as an embodiment of money-driven politics
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Zaheer Merhali Jhanda (born 1980) is a Kenyan politician and businessman who has served as Member of Parliament for Nyaribari Chache Constituency in Kisii County since August 2022, elected on a United Democratic Alliance (UDA) ticket. A first-term legislator, he is known for his flamboyant lifestyle, close alignment with President William Ruto, and his bid to overturn entrenched clan-based voting patterns in Kisii politics. Before winning in 2022, he made earlier attempts at the Nyaribari Chache seat on URP (2013) and Jubilee (2017) tickets, narrowly losing, but building name recognition as a youthful, well-resourced aspirant.
Zaheer Merhali Jhanda is affiliated with United Democratic Alliance (UDA).
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