Gospel musician turned politician Paul Waiganjo has resigned as President William Ruto's advisor on development matters, citing a fundamental inability to deliver meaningful change on the ground. Waiganjo tendered his resignation on September 25, less than four months after being appointed to the position on May 28. He had been serving in the Office of Programmes and Special Projects at State House Nairobi. Waiganjo expressed his disappointment with the role, stating that it did not allow him to address pressing needs.
Waiganjo's resignation was announced at a press address, where he explained that he had entered a period of deep reflection after realizing that the structure of his office left him unable to act on concerns he had observed across the country. He cited a painful and underwhelming mismatch between his new role in government and his ambitious vision for Nyandarua County. Waiganjo consulted local clergy, seasoned professionals, entrepreneurs, and youth groups before concluding that he could no longer remain in the position in good conscience.
Waiganjo highlighted several pressing struggles on the ground that he felt unable to address from within his advisory capacity. These included critical resource shortages in local hospitals, spiked school dropout rates due to delayed capitation, and economic pressure on traders and workers. He described it as a betrayal of his oath to comfortably occupy a title under such circumstances. Waiganjo had initially accepted the advisory role with optimism, viewing it as a vehicle for delivering development.
When Waiganjo accepted the role, he had hoped to deliver impact across the nation through initiatives such as school construction, hospital upgrades, borehole drilling, street lighting, and job creation. However, he found that the role did not provide the necessary scope to implement these plans. Waiganjo's resignation comes as a surprise, given his high-profile appointment and the expectations that came with it.
Waiganjo's political background includes his departure from the Democracy for the Citizens Party (DCP), which he accused of conducting an unfair nomination process ahead of the Ol Kalou MP by-election held on July 16. Following his resignation, Waiganjo stopped short of announcing his next political move but repeatedly referenced his ambitions for Nyandarua County. He hinted at a possible tilt at a county office or a fresh run for the Ol Kalou parliamentary seat in the 2027 general election.
Despite resigning as advisor to President Ruto, Waiganjo declared that he would not oppose the president immediately, stating that "we're in one-term movement." He urged unity across the Mt Kenya region and counselled the Mt Kenya electorate to enlist as voters if their aim is to remove Ruto from office. Waiganjo noted that the president "won't be defeated by words of mouth," emphasizing the need for a more concrete plan.
Waiganjo's resignation has raised questions about the future of his political career and the implications for President Ruto's administration. As a prominent figure in Kenyan politics, Waiganjo's decision is likely to have a ripple effect. His commitment to delivering change and addressing pressing needs is clear, and it remains to be seen how he will choose to pursue these goals in the future.
Key points
- Paul Waiganjo resigned as President William Ruto's advisor on development matters due to a structural mismatch and inability to deliver change.
- Waiganjo cited pressing struggles on the ground, including resource shortages in hospitals and economic pressure on traders and workers.
- Waiganjo's resignation has raised questions about his future political career and the implications for President Ruto's administration.
