Water CS Eric Muga faces backlash for skipping Senate session

Water, Sanitation and Irrigation Cabinet Secretary nominee Eric Mugaa when he appeared before the Appointments Committee on August 2, 2024. (Photo: Handout)

By Maureen Kinyanjui
Wednesday, February 26, 2025

Since this was CS Muga's first invitation to the Senate, Murungi ruled that his apology would be accepted and that he would not face any penalties.

Water and Sanitation Cabinet Secretary Eric Muga faced backlash at the Senate on Wednesday morning after failing to appear for a scheduled plenary session.

Senators, led by Majority Leader Aaron Cheruiyot and Nairobi's Edwin Sifuna, questioned his absence, with some claiming they did not know what he looked like.

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The session began with Deputy Senate Speaker Kathuri Murungi announcing that CS Muga had sent an apology, stating that he was accompanying the President on a coastal tour to address water challenges in the region.

"It is in my notice that the CS for Water is accompanying the President on the Mombasa working tour, and therefore he has requested the Senate to indulge him so he can try and sort out water issues in the Coast region," Murungi said.

While he accepted the apology and urged the CS to appear before the Senate upon returning to Nairobi, some senators were unimpressed, particularly because this was Muga's first-ever Senate summons since his appointment.

Senator Sifuna expressed concern over the CS's absence, stating that many lawmakers were unfamiliar with him.

"This is the one CS I have never seen. I don't know what he looks like. If we met in the street, I wouldn't know him. I don't even know his name. I was looking forward to seeing his face," he said.

He suggested an induction programme for new Cabinet Secretaries. "Majority Leader, I think we should have an induction for new CSs. Part of the problem with our government, and the President has even said it, is that he struggles to be the only person communicating government policy. And it's true because who is this person who holds the Water docket? If he walked into this House, no one would recognise him. Is it a man? Is it a woman?" Sifuna posed.

Kericho Senator Cheruiyot also criticised the CS's absence, arguing that the President's visit was not an emergency. "A President's visit is not a thunderstorm that appears from the blues. It is planned weeks in advance, and the minister was aware that he should be here," Cheruiyot said.

"There is a very cardinal principle this minister is violating. You are supposed to issue notice to the Senate at least seven days before the date of appearance," he added.

However, Deputy Speaker Kathuri Murungi defended the CS, clarifying his identity and background.

"You said you don't know his name. He is not a she. His name is Engineer Eric Muriithi Muga, and I represent him in the Senate but not on this matter because I am the Senator for Meru," Murungi stated.

Since this was CS Muga's first invitation to the Senate, Murungi ruled that his apology would be accepted and that he would not face any penalties.

However, lawmakers insisted that he should prioritise attending future summons to avoid similar backlash.