MUTAHI KAHIGA
| NAME | MUTAHI KAHIGA |
| AGE | 64 YEARS |
| GENDER | MALE |
| OCCUPATION | POLITICIAN |
Mutahi Kahiga is a Kenyan politician and the current Governor of Nyeri County under the the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) party.
Early life and education
Mutahi Kahiga was born in 1961 in Gitathi-ini Village, Nyeri County, into a family of modest means; his father worked as a waiter at the nearby Kenya Police College mess and raised a large household of eight children.
Kahiga pursued teacher training at Kisii Teacher Training College, enrolling around 1977 for a P1 teaching certificate, from which he graduated in 1980.
He was then posted to Baringo Central, where he began his teaching career, spending six years there before transferring back to Nyeri, where he would teach for over 25 years.
In 2006, Kahiga completed a Bachelor’s degree in Education from the University of Nairobi and later earned a Master’s degree in Education Leadership & Management from Kenya Methodist University (KeMU).
Demonstrating his lifelong commitment to education, he pursued and successfully attained a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Leadership and Education Management from KeMU in October 2024.
Career
Professional career
After graduating from Kisii Teacher Training College in 1980 with a P1 certificate, Mutahi Kahiga’s first posting was in Baringo Central, where he taught for six years from 1980 to 1986.
In 1986, Kahiga transferred back to his home county of Nyeri, where he continued teaching in several schools, steadily rising through the ranks to become a senior teacher and later a headteacher.
Beyond the classroom, Kahiga became deeply involved in teachers’ welfare and advocacy. He joined the Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT), where he played an active role in advancing the interests of teachers across Nyeri and Central Kenya.
During his tenure at KNUT, he also sat on several education boards and committees at the county and national levels. These included the Nyeri County Education Board and the Central Kenya Education Strategy Committee, where he contributed to policy development and teacher training programs.
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By the time he transitioned fully into politics in 2017, Mutahi Kahiga had accumulated over 35 years of experience in teaching, educational leadership, and policy advocacy.
Political Career
In 2017, he officially joined active politics under the Jubilee Party, then the ruling party, to contest the position of Deputy Governor of Nyeri County.
Running alongside Wahome Gakuru, their ticket won decisively in the August 2017 General Election.
On November 7, 2017, Governor Wahome Gakuru died in a fatal road accident along the Nairobi–Nyeri highway.
Following constitutional provisions, Kahiga was sworn in as the Governor of Nyeri County on November 13, 2017, making him the county’s third governor.
As governor, Kahiga prioritized healthcare reforms, agricultural productivity, and youth empowerment.
His administration also invested in tea and coffee value chains, positioning Nyeri as a leader in agribusiness development.
In preparation for the 2022 General Election, Kahiga shifted his political allegiance to the United Democratic Alliance (UDA), led by William Ruto, which was part of the Kenya Kwanza Alliance.
Running on the UDA ticket, he sought re-election for the governor’s seat and emerged victorious, securing a second term and affirming his political influence within the region.
During his second term, he was elected by fellow governors as the Chairperson of the Central Kenya Economic Bloc (CEREB).
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At the national level, Kahiga has been an active participant in the Council of Governors, where he sits on various committees focused on devolution, fiscal management, and intergovernmental relations.
Net worth
Details about his net worth are not publicly available.
However, Mutahi Kahiga earns a gross salary of KSh990,000 as a county governor.
This includes:
- Basic salary: Ksh574,200
- House allowance: Ksh200,000
- Salary market adjustment: Ksh196,000
Mutahi Kahiga is also entitled to benefits and allowances such as:
- Official car (up to 3,000cc) or car allowance
- Medical cover for the governor, spouse, and up to four dependent children
- Airtime allowance: Up to Ksh20,000 per month
- Official residence, security, and travel subsistence allowances (per SRC-approved rates)
- Retirement benefits, including gratuity equivalent to 31% of annual pensionable income or contributions to an established pension scheme
- Group life insurance valued at three times the annual pensionable earnings
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