• His fate now lies with the court after it on Friday issued temporary orders preventing Mutunga from taking oath.
• This is after activist Okiya Omtata filed an application challenging the eligibility of Mutunga to hold the office of the deputy ovgernor.
Image: EZEKIEL AMINGA
From selling second hand clothes in Gikomba market to being nominated for the second most powerful seat in Nairobi county.
It has been a rocky journey for 47-year-old Paul Mutunga Mutugi who was last week vetted for the position of Deputy Governor.
Mutunga describes himself as a confident, articulate and multifaced politician who has been respected by the electorate over the years.
“Being heard and making a difference in society is one of the drivers of my political ambition,” he said.
Born in Thika, Mutunga after a few years landed in Nairobi's Eastlands area where he went to Acquinas Boys High School for his O -levels.
He was in the class of 1993, where he attained a mean grade of C+ in his Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education exam.
Mutunga graduated from Masinde Muliro University Class of 2015 with a Bachelor of Arts in Disaster Management and International Diplomacy.
However, as a young man in 1994 fresh from high school, Mutunga had to find means to earn a living to survive in the streets of Nairobi.
When he appeared before the Nairobi County Assembly Committee on Appointments for vetting on Thursday, he disclosed that he was a second clothes hawker at Gikomba market.
“ After high school, I became a hawker and started selling second-hand clothes in Gikomba. That's how I earned a living back then,” Mutunga noted.
Four years later, he decided to join politics and he was elected as Councilor for Mbotela Ward from 1997 to 2002.
A clear indication that his leadership had an impact on Mbotela voters, he was again re-elected as the councillor in the 2002 General Election, where he served for five years.
Between 2007 -2012, Mutunga was a Nominated Councilor under the Party of National Unity (PNU) ticket.
Before devolution in 2013, Mutunga was the longest-serving chairman of the Finance, Budget and Appropriation Committee.
He went on record having initiated the Budget reading by the chairperson of the Budget Committee Countrywide highlighting achievements in the past year.
This has normally been a norm carried up to date whereby during the budget reading at the county assembly, the chairperson highlights the achievements before the CEC for Finance reads the budget.
Politically, the former councillor is said to have been on the forefront and negotiated the then city council of Nairobi out of a stalemate between Party of National Unity and Orange Democratic Movement when there was a tie of votes for the mayor seat.
An indication that Mutunga was a negotiator, He played a key part in securing Majiwa’s first win as mayor in 2009.
This was a time he tied votes with PNU candidate Njoroge Chege with each getting 42 votes.
Together with former Mayor and current Makadara MP George Aladwa, Mutunga struck the power-sharing deal that led to Majiwa’ swearing-in .
Later, Mutunga contested for the mayoral seat but was defeated by Baba Dogo’s councillor Majiwa who was defending his seat.
Majiwa who is the current Deputy Speaker and Baba Dogo MCA garnered 48 votes while Mutunga who was his challenger got 46.
In March 2010, Mutunga used a coffin and led demonstrations pushing for the resignation of the then Mayor Majiwa.
On the streets, he strongly advocated that there will be zero tolerance on corruption at City Hall.
In 2017, Mutunga was Embakasi South MP aspirant under Jubilee Party but lost to ODM's Julius Mawathe.
In 2019, Mutunga was accused alongside 13 others in a case where former Nairobi Governor Evans Kidero was accused of graft relating to the payment of Sh68 million to a legal firm.
The group faced charges of conspiracy to commit an offence of corruption; unlawful acquisition of public property; abuse of office, dealing with suspect property and money laundering.
The matter is still in court.
The court on Friday issued temporary orders preventing Mutunga from taking oath.
This is after activist Okiya Omtata filed an application challenging the eligibility of Mutunga to hold the office of the deputy governor.
Last year, Mutunga made a comeback at City hall where he was appointed as the Director Liquor Board, Nairobi County.
His duties were simply developing county policies relating to the production, manufacture, sale and consumption of alcoholic drinks.
Also supporting and facilitating sub-county liquor to production, manufacture, sale and consumption of alcoholic drinks.
Early this year, when County Assembly Speaker Benson Mutura was Acting Governor, he appointed Mutunga as the Chief of Staff.
As a chief officer, he was the private secretary to the Governor and responsible for overall administration of the governor's office.
He also supervised political appointees of the governor's office and ensured a smooth running of the governor's office.
“It's not that I’m the luckiest person but I know God’s grace has made me reach here today. I find it always a privilege to get certain positions of leadership because serving the people is a calling,” Mutunga said during vetting.
Edited by CM