Inside Kivutha Kibwana’s legacy of people-centred governance before going back to lecture halls
His transition into politics came when he became the Member of Parliament for Makueni Constituency, eventually serving in various senior state positions, including Minister of Defence and Minister of Environment.
Kivutha Kibwana is a name that resonates in Kenya's political landscape. Known for his roles as an educator, human rights activist, and politician, Kibwana's journey to becoming the first Governor of Makueni County was not one he initially anticipated.
While many Kenyans are familiar with his political influence, few know that his early dreams were not tied to leadership but to teaching.
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“I thought I was going to be a teacher. I was inspired by my primary and secondary school teachers. Those days, you thought you'd be a teacher if you were a boy, and a nurse if you were a girl,” Kibwana shared with Eastleigh Voice.
His early career aspirations were shaped by the inspiration he drew from his teachers, which was a common path for boys in his generation. Despite this, his life's journey took a different direction.
Kibwana went on to spend 25 years at the University of Nairobi as a law professor and a human rights activist before stepping into the political sphere.
His transition into politics came when he became the Member of Parliament for Makueni Constituency, eventually serving in various senior state positions, including Minister of Defence and Minister of Environment.
He later became the first Governor of Makueni County, and this is when his political journey truly made an impact.
As devolution began to take shape, Kibwana saw an opportunity to make governance more inclusive.
He ran for Governor, driven by a desire to empower the people of Makueni to actively participate in decisions that affected their lives.
His approach to leadership was based on the belief that governance should not be a top-down system but one that involves citizens at every level.
Community engagement
When asked about his proudest achievement during his tenure as Governor, Kibwana emphasised his focus on community engagement.
“We ran three governments. There was the national government, the county government, and a people’s government,” he explained.
At the village level, Kibwana and his team made sure that residents had a direct role in decision-making.
Each village elected representatives who would be responsible for ensuring that decisions made within their locality reflected the needs of the people.
Furthermore, villages were grouped into clusters, with each cluster electing its leadership. These leaders included representatives from various groups, including women, youth, persons with disabilities, and faith communities.
This system ensured that no decision, especially during budget planning, was made without the approval of the people.
“We wouldn’t make the budget without that system’s approval. We also had something we called a project management committee, which ensured that projects were executed according to plan,” Kibwana noted.
He also explained that contractors would not receive payment unless the community was satisfied with the projects, further reinforcing the accountability of the system.
Productive politics
However, Kibwana remains optimistic about the future of politics in Kenya. He believes that the focus of political leadership should shift towards serving the people rather than personal gain.
“We need to invest in productive politics that secures our country, our youth, and our people,” he said, stressing the importance of good governance.
Reflecting on the lessons learned from his career, Kibwana expressed hope for a better political future.
“I am hopeful that we can return to the politics of the Mwai Kibaki days, where the focus was on the collective good,” he concluded.
Quitting elective politics for academia
In November 2022, Kibwana announced that he had quit elective politics after 15 years of service.
“Today, I announced that I have quit elective politics after serving the people of Makueni Constituency (2002–2007) and Makueni County (2013–2022), and 30 years of public service. Thanks be to God, my former students, co-workers, and those I served,” he said.
Kibwana served Makueni residents as both an MP and a two-term governor. In the 2022 general election, the former governor launched a senatorial bid to replace Mutula Kilonzo but lost the seat to Wiper party's Dan Maanzo. He was running on the Muungano Party ticket.
In September 2024, Kibwana was appointed to teach law at Daystar University Law School starting January 2025, marking his return to academia.
This new role adds to his longstanding history in education.
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