President William Ruto has appointed former Ol Kalou parliamentary candidate Samuel Muchina Nyaga to the Nairobi Rivers Commission, just days after he lost the constituency by-election, handing the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) politician a new public role through a gazette notice that took effect immediately.
The appointment was published in a special issue of the Kenya Gazette dated July 22, 2026.
According to Gazette Notice No. 11217, President Ruto appointed Muchina to serve as a member of the commission under Gazette Notice No. 13907 of 2024, as read together with Section 51(1) of the Interpretation and General Provisions Act.
“It is notified for the general information of the public that… 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 states.
The same gazette notice also revoked the appointment of Amos Chege Mugo as a member of the commission.
Muchina vied for the Ol Kalou parliamentary seat in the July 20 by-election on a UDA ticket but was defeated by Democracy for the Citizens Party (DCP) candidate Sammy Douglas Kamau Waweru.
Official results released by the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) show Waweru won the contest with 35,440 votes, while Muchina garnered 5,450 votes.
The appointment came a day after President Ruto held a meeting with Muchina at State House, Nairobi, following the conclusion of the by-election.
The Nairobi Rivers Commission is responsible for coordinating the restoration, rehabilitation and sustainable management of the Nairobi River Basin. It brings together national and county government agencies to oversee environmental conservation efforts and urban renewal programmes.