Ruto appoints Samuel Muchina to Nairobi Rivers Commission days after Ol Kalou by-election defeat
The appointment, which takes effect from July 22, 2026, was announced through a Special Gazette Notice. In the same notice, President Ruto revoked the.
President William Ruto greets former UDA Ol Kalou parliamentary by-election candidate Samuel Muchina Nyagah during a meeting at State House, Nairobi, on July 21, 2026. (Photo: PCS)
President William Ruto has appointed Samuel Muchina Nyaga, the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) candidate in the recently concluded Ol Kalou parliamentary by-election, as a member of the Nairobi Rivers Commission (NRC).
The appointment, which takes effect from July 22, 2026, was announced through a Special Gazette Notice. In the same notice, President Ruto revoked the appointment of Amos Chege Mugo from the commission.
Muchina's appointment comes just days after he suffered defeat in the July 16 Ol Kalou by-election, where he lost to Democracy for Citizens Party (DCP) candidate Sammy Douglas Kamau. The move follows calls from sections of the Kenya Kwanza coalition urging the President to accommodate the former UDA candidate in government after his unsuccessful bid for the parliamentary seat.
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As a member of the Nairobi Rivers Commission, Muchina will play a role in overseeing the government's ambitious Nairobi River regeneration programme. The commission is mandated to coordinate multi-agency efforts aimed at reclaiming, rehabilitating and restoring the ecological integrity of the Nairobi River Basin.
His responsibilities will include providing strategic oversight for restoration projects, coordinating collaboration among government agencies, county authorities, private sector stakeholders and civil society organisations, and ensuring compliance with environmental laws governing the river basin.
The commission is also tasked with promoting public participation in river conservation, facilitating discussions on riparian land use, and mobilising resources for long-term restoration initiatives. Among its key objectives is the establishment of a dedicated Trust Fund to support sustainable financing for river regeneration projects.
Muchina's appointment is expected to generate political debate, coming shortly after his by-election defeat. While supporters are likely to view the move as recognition of his leadership and an opportunity to contribute to national development, critics may question the timing of the appointment and its implications for political patronage.
The Nairobi Rivers Commission is spearheading the government's efforts to transform Nairobi's rivers through environmental restoration, pollution control and coordinated management of the city's river ecosystem.