Mutahi Kahiga was born in 1960 in Gitathi-ini, Nyeri County.

He comes from a household of eight children, and his father worked as a waiter at the nearby Kenya Police College mess in Nyeri County.

Mutahi is the fourth governor of Nyeri County.

He is married to Carolyne Wamaitha.

Educational Background

Kahiga attended Mary’s Boys High School in Nyeri County.

He later joined Kisii Teachers Training College, around 1977, for a P1 teaching certificate and graduated in 1980.

In 2006, he completed his university education with a Bachelor’s degree in Education from the University of Nairobi (UoN) and later earned a Master’s degree in Education Leadership & Management from Kenya Methodist University (KeMU).

He later pursued and achieved a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Leadership and Education Management from Kenya Methodist University (KeMU) in October 2024.

Professional career of Mutahi Kahiga

He began his teaching career at Baringo Central, where he spent six years from 1980 to 1986.

In 1986, Kahiga was transferred to his home county of Nyeri, where he continued teaching at several schools for over 25 years, steadily rising through ranks to become a senior teacher and later headteacher.

He joined the Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT) to advocate for teachers’ welfare and advance the interests of teachers in Central Kenya.

While at KNUT, Kahiga was a key figure who sat on several education boards and committees at the county and national levels.

These included the Nyeri County Education Board and the Central Kenya Education Strategy Committee, where he contributed to policy development and teacher training programs.

He worked with the education sector for over 35 years and joined politics in 2017.

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Political Career

He joined active politics in 2017 under the Jubilee Party and was contesting the position of Deputy Governor, Nyeri County.

He ran alongside Wahome Gakuru, with whom they won the elections.

On November 7, 2017, Governor Wahome Gakuru died in a fatal road accident along the Nairobi–Nyeri highway.

After the death of Wahome, Kahiga was sworn in and ascended gubernatorial seat on November 13, 2017, as the third governor of Nyeri County.

During his tenure in office, Kahiga prioritized healthcare reforms, agricultural productivity, and youth empowerment.

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He also invested heavily in tea and coffee value chains, positioning Nyeri as a leader in agribusiness development.

In the 2022 general elections, be joined the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) led by President William Ruto, and he was re-elected again.

During his second term, he was elected by fellow governors as the Chairperson of the Central Kenya Economic Bloc (CEREB).

As the Chairperson, he discussed devolution, fiscal management, and intergovernmental relations.

Net worth

Mutahi Kahiga earns a gross salary of KSh990,000 as a county governor, in line with what governors are entitled to under the Constitution.

His other allowances include house, car, market adjustment, insurance, and medical cover, among others.

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Governor Mutahi Kahiga at a past event. PHOTO/CD