President William Ruto has appointed Samuel Muchina Nyaga, the defeated United Democratic Alliance (UDA) candidate in the Ol Kalou parliamentary by-election, as a member of the Nairobi Rivers Commission, barely a week after his crushing loss at the polls.
The appointment was announced through a Special Kenya Gazette Notice dated July 22, 2026, and took effect immediately. It also revoked the appointment of Amos Chege Mugo, who previously held the seat on the commission.
According to the notice, the appointment was made pursuant to Gazette Notice No. 13907 of 2024, read together with Section 51(1) of the Interpretation and General Provisions Act.
“It is notified for the general information of the public that… I, William Samoei Ruto, President of the Republic of Kenya and Commander-in-Chief of the Defence Forces, appoint Samuel Muchina Nyaga to be a Member of the Nairobi Rivers Commission, with effect from the 22nd July, 2026,” the notice read.
Muchina lost the July 16 Ol Kalou by-election to Democracy for the Citizens Party (DCP) candidate Sammy Douglas Kamau Waweru, in a contest widely framed as a political duel between President Ruto and his former deputy, Rigathi Gachagua. Official results showed Waweru polled 35,440 votes against Muchina’s 5,450, a landslide defeat in what was seen as a key electoral test for the ruling party in the Mt Kenya region.
The by-election had been triggered by the death of the area’s former MP, David Kiaraho, marking the constituency’s first parliamentary contest since the 2022 General Election.
Muchina’s appointment comes a day after he was hosted at State House, where he held talks with the President. Speaking afterwards, he said Ruto had directed him to continue overseeing ongoing government projects in Ol Kalou, including electrification schemes, housing for vulnerable families, borehole works, a university project and a hospital upgrade.
“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.
As a commission member, Muchina will help coordinate the restoration and rehabilitation of the Nairobi River Basin, working with national and county agencies, private players and civil society to enforce environmental compliance, mobilise resources and drive public participation in the river regeneration programme.
The appointment has drawn criticism from those who argue it undermines the will of voters by rewarding a losing candidate with a state office, a recurring pattern in Kenyan politics.
