Ol Kalou UDA Aspirant Wambugu Lands State Appointment After Party Nomination Loss
UDA aspirant George Wambugu Kanuri, who narrowly lost the Ol Kalou parliamentary nomination, has been appointed to a state position in the latest round of government board reconstitutions.
Wambugu, popularly known as “Delight,” was appointed as a Member of the Board of Directors of the Unclaimed Financial Assets Authority (UFAA) by National Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi through gazette notice dated May 29, 2026.
His appointment comes weeks after he lost the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) party ticket for the Ol Kalou by-election.
Samuel Muchina Nyagah emerged victorious in the highly contested UDA nominations held ahead of the July 16 by-election, securing 3,221 votes to clinch the party’s flagbearer ticket.
He was closely followed by Wambugu, who garnered 3,077 votes, while Peter Njoroge Mugo came in third with 1,049 votes. The race attracted 10 aspirants in total, though voter turnout remained low, with about 8,000 votes cast out of 72,000 registered voters in the 2022 General Election.
Other State Appointments Announced
In the same Gazette notices, President William Ruto and several Cabinet Secretaries announced multiple reappointments and board appointments across various state agencies.
President Ruto reappointed Dr. David Nkedianye as the Non-Executive Chairperson of the Wildlife Research and Training Institute Board for a three-year term. He also appointed Joseph Ogendo as the Non-Executive Chairperson of the Kenya Trade Network Agency Board.
Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba reappointed Prof. Emmanuel Mutisya as Chairperson, alongside Washington O. Yotto, Collins K. Tanui, and Meshack Kidenda as members of the Council of the Kenya Advanced Institute of Science and Technology.
Energy and Petroleum CS Opiyo Wandayi reappointed Mercylinnete Rotich and Jane Rose Gatwiri as members of the Board of the Kenya Electricity Transmission Company Limited, alongside Nick Ochola.
Investment, Trade and Industry CS Lee Kinyanjui reappointed Geoffrey Omenke and Joe N. Muriuki to the Board of Directors of the Export Processing Zones Authority.
Water, Sanitation and Irrigation CS Eric Muuga reappointed Risper Maccs Berem as a member of the North Rift Valley Water Works Development Agency Board.
Lands, Public Works, Housing and Urban Development CS Alice Wahome also reappointed Nicholas Tirop Koech to the Board of the National Construction Authority.