Samuel Muchina Nyagah pictured with President William Ruto during his visit at State House. Photo: PCS
President William Ruto has appointed United Democratic Alliance (UDA) candidate Samuel Muchina Nyaga as a member of the Nairobi Rivers Commission, just days after his defeat in the Ol Kalou parliamentary by-election.
Muchina’s appointment was announced in a Special Gazette Notice issued on Wednesday, July 22. He replaces Amos Chege Mugo, whose appointment to the commission was revoked.
The appointment comes despite Muchina’s loss in the fiercely contested Ol Kalou by-election, where he secured 5,450 votes against 35,440 votes garnered by Sammy Kamau Ngotho of former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua’s Democracy for the Citizens Party (DCP).
As a member of the Nairobi Rivers Commission, Muchina will help oversee the restoration, rehabilitation and management of the Nairobi River basin. The commission is also tasked with enforcing environmental laws within the basin and coordinating with stakeholders to promote sustainable river management.
The appointment follows a meeting between President Ruto and Muchina at State House on July 21, during which the former UDA candidate revealed that he had been assigned to oversee the implementation of ongoing national government development projects in Ol Kalou.
“Although our victory was postponed, our commitment to the people of Ol Kalou remains unwavering. Leadership is not only about holding office; it is about standing with the people and ensuring that development reaches every household,” Muchina said after the meeting.
The Ol Kalou by-election drew national attention as it was widely seen as a political contest between President Ruto and his former deputy, Rigathi Gachagua. The election was necessitated by the death of former Ol Kalou MP David Kiaraho, making it the constituency’s first parliamentary by-election since the 2022 General Election.
