President William Ruto has appointed Samuel Muchina Nyaga as a member of the Nairobi Rivers Commission (NRC).
Muchina Nyaga, who represented the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) in the just-concluded Ol Kalou by-election, replaces Amos Chege Mugo, whose appointment was revoked. The appointment follows the July 16 by-election, which stirred controversy and ended with Muchina Nyaga losing by a wide margin to Democracy for Citizens Party (DCP) candidate Sammy Douglas Kamau.
In a special gazette notice dated July 22, 2026, the President stated: “IT IS notified for the general information of the public that, pursuant to Gazette Notice No. 13907 of 2024, as read together with section 51 (1) of the Interpretation and General Provisions Act, 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 added, “The appointment of Amos Chege Mugo is revoked.”
New Role on the Rivers Commission
As an NRC board member, Muchina Nyaga will coordinate multi-agency work focused on reclaiming, rehabilitating, and restoring the ecological health of the Nairobi River Basin. The role will also support plans to reshape the city’s rivers into vibrant green-blue infrastructure.
He will provide strategic oversight by developing and supervising restoration programmes while leading stakeholder coordination. This involves aligning national government institutions, county authorities, private-sector players, and civil society organisations to ensure rehabilitation efforts across the basin proceed in a coordinated, unified manner.
As part of the board’s work, he will monitor compliance with environmental laws governing the river basin. He will also help develop enforceable codes of conduct, while driving public engagement efforts that raise awareness, encourage community participation, and create space for constructive discussions on riparian land use.
Beyond regulation, the role requires him to mobilise resources and design innovative financing mechanisms. He will also help establish a dedicated Trust Fund to sponsor long-term river regeneration projects, ensuring the programme continues well past the immediate rehabilitation phase.
Ol Kalou Projects to Continue, Says Muchina Nyaga
Muchina Nyaga said on the morning of July 22, after visiting State House, that President Ruto instructed him to oversee all developments that the campaign period had kicked off, adding that those efforts will move forward regardless of the election outcome.
According to Muchina Nyaga, the President’s directives cover confirmed ongoing initiatives, including 36 electrification projects across the constituency, housing construction for vulnerable families, and borehole completion in every ward. The list also includes the university project, JM Hospital’s Level 5 upgrade, and stadium and road works.
Muchina Nyaga accepted the responsibility and said the projects focus on serving constituents rather than politics, adding that they aim to secure a brighter future for the people.
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