This archive report was first published on 14 January 2020.
President Uhuru Kenyatta has made a significant change in his cabinet, appointing former Nyeri Senator Mutahi Kagwe as the new Health Cabinet Secretary, effective immediately.
As reported on January 14, 2020, Kagwe's appointment comes after Sicily Kariuki was moved to the Water and Irrigation docket.
Born in 1978, Kagwe is a prominent figure in the Mt Kenya region, known for his unwavering support for the handshake between President Uhuru and Raila Odinga.
With a rich political background, Kagwe was first elected to parliament as Mukurweini MP in 2002 and served in several parliamentary committees before being appointed as the Cabinet Ministry for Information and Communication by then-President Mwai Kibaki.
One of Kagwe's notable achievements was championing the construction of the East African Marine System (T.E.A.M.S), a fibre optic project that has brought high-speed internet to Kenya and the entire region.
As ICT Minister, Kagwe played a crucial role in convincing President Kibaki to abandon satellites and join the global fibre optic network, resulting in faster internet speeds and affordable call rates for Kenyans.
During his tenure, MPESA, the world's first money transfer system, was launched, and it has since become a multi-billion venture crucial to Kenyans.
