Headquartered in Meru town, Meru County is regarded as Kenya’s Miraa capital, supplying numerous markets across the world.

The county’s sons and daughters have also earned recognition through their work and professional milestones.

In this article, WoK covers 5 prominent people from Meru County and their accomplishments.

Dr Leon Mwiti: Awarded by King Charles

Dr Leon Mwiti is one of the very few people in the world who have received the prestigious UK Humanitarian Medal.

He was awarded the medal by King Charles in September 2026 following his humanitarian efforts in war-torn Gaza.

Mwiti hails from Igoji, in South Imenti Constituency. He earned his medical degree at the Kenya Methodist University.

He started humanitarian medical work in 2019, where he spent two years providing healthcare in Dadaab refugee camp with Médecins Sans Frontières.

Mwiti has also participated in cholera responses in Zambia and Malawi.

He was also part of the team that provided emergency care following Cyclone Freddy as well as a hospital burns unit assessment in Syria.

In Gaza, he leads a team of 400 personnel responsible for ensuring the availability of medical supplies.

Professor Leah Marangu: First Full Female Professor

Professor Leah Marangu made history in 1988 when she became the first full female professor in East Africa while working at Kenyatta University.

She was also the first Kenyan woman to serve as a university vice-chancellor, taking charge of Africa Nazarene University in 1996.

Internationally, she was awarded a Women Leadership Achievement Award in Mumbai and was recognized at the 2013 Global Peace Convention in Kuala Lumpur.

Marangu was born in South Imenti, where she was born on 2 July 1952.

She attended Kaaga Girls High School before training as a public health nurse and midwife at Maua Methodist Hospital.

She worked at Meru and Nkubu hospitals before travelling to America.

However, a nursing school declined to admit her because she was married, prompting her to study home economics at Olivet Nazarene University instead.

She later earned postgraduate qualifications at Northern Illinois University and Iowa State University.

Marangu later returned to Kenya, taught at Kenyatta University, where she was credited with mentoring various university leaders like Prof. Olive Mugenda.

Caroline Makandi Gitonga: A world championship silver medallist

Caroline Makandi Gitonga won silver in the women’s five-kilometre race at the 2026 World Athletics Road Running Championships in Copenhagen.

She finished in 14 minutes and 48 seconds behind Ethiopia’s Likina Amebaw.

Caroline traces her family roots to Kibirichia, Buuri, Meru, where she was born alongside her identical twin, Purity Kajuju Gitonga, who is also a professional athlete.

Caroline has run and won several races in Italy and Switzerland. She also won a five-kilometre race at the Austrian Women’s Run in Vienna in 2019.

In 2023, she finished second behind Purity at the Udine half marathon in Italy.

Martha Koome: Kenya’s first woman Chief Justice

Martha Koome made history in May 2021 when she became Kenya’s first woman Chief Justice and President of the Supreme Court.

Before that appointment, she had received the runner-up award for UN Kenya Person of the Year in 2020 for her work defending children’s rights.

Koome was born in Kithiu village, Meru. She grew up in a large family, where her parents were farmers.

She graduated from the University of Nairobi with a law degree in 1986, completed professional training, and was admitted as an advocate in 1987.

She was appointed to the High Court in 2003 and the Court of Appeal in 2012.

According to the Judiciary, she has also served on the African Union’s Committee on the Rights and Welfare of the Child.

Samuel Kobia: The first African to lead the World Council of Churches

Rev. Samuel Kobia became the first African to serve as general secretary of the World Council of Churches (WCC).

WCC is an international fellowship that brings together Protestant, Orthodox, and other Christian churches.

Kobia has also served as general secretary of the National Council of Churches of Kenya from 1987 to 1993.

He has also led the World Council of Churches’ Justice, Peace and Creation unit.

Kobia was born in Miathene, Meru, in 1947.

He trained at St Paul’s United Theological College before moving to the United States for further studies.

He holds a master’s degree in city planning from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

Bernice Boore- Lead Nurse in the UK

Bernice Boore is another Meru-born nurse who has made international headlines.

Boore, who is based in the UK, won the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) South East Black History Month “Making a Difference Award in 2020, beating over 60,000 other nurses who were also eligible for participation.

The award recognized her outstanding leadership during the Covid-19 crisis.

Boore is an alumna of Chogoria Girls Boarding Primary School and Mukinduri Girls High School.

In Kenya, she worked at Aga Khan Hospital before relocating to the UK, where she joined the UK’s National Health Service (NHS), rose through the ranks, and became a lead nurse.

She became one of Kenya’s youngest county ministers under the 2010 Constitution.

Jefwa was appointed by Lamu Governor Issa Timamy as Lamu‘s CECM for Fisheries, Blue Economy, Livestock and Cooperative Development.

This is her profile as told by WoK:

Education qualifications

Jefwa is one of the most educated young professionals in Lamu County.

She holds a PhD in Maritime Governance and Environmental Management from the University of Malaysia Terengganu.

She also earned a Master of Laws (LLM) degree from Swansea University, which she completed in 2023.

In addition, Jefwa holds a degree in Business, Law and Social Sciences from Nottingham Trent International College.

Her educational profile also features a Bachelor of Arts degree in Criminal Law and Law Enforcement Administration from Nottingham Trent University.

Additionally, she holds other certifications from UNEP and the Sultan Ahmad Shah Maritime Academy (AMSAS).

Career journey

Dr Jefwa started her career as a maritime affairs advisor at the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH in Nairobi.

From there, she became a part-time adjunct lecturer at the Technical University of Mombasa.

Before her appointment as Lamu’s CECM, she was working as a maritime advisor with the Western Indian Ocean Governance Initiative (WIOGI).

Jefwa is also an associate member of the Association of Maritime Practitioners in Kenya and the founder of the Sabrina Foundation. She is also

Salary

As a county CECM, Dr Jefwa is entitled to a basic salary of at least KSh 242,550 per month according to a 2024 SRC remuneration report.

She also receives a house allowance of KSh 80,000 per month as well as an airtime allowance of KSh 10,000.

She is also entitled to official transport provided by the County Government of Lamu, which includes a vehicle with an engine capacity that does not exceed 2000cc.

Additionally, CECMs receive annual medical cover for themselves, one spouse, and up to four children aged below 25 years.

The medical cover includes KSh 100,000 for maternity services, KSh 200,000 for outpatient services, and ksh 3 million for inpatient services.

The insurance also covers KSh 50,000 for optical services and another KSh 50,000 for dental services.

Development Plans for Lamu

In her acceptance speech, Dr Jefwa stated that she was already in talks with investors to set up a maritime training school in Lamu.

This would help boost the county’s economy and create employment opportunities.

She further stated that she would partner with shipping companies and recruitment agencies to seek more employment opportunities for the county’s youth.

“I urge all leaders and residents of Lamu to support my docket so that we can all enjoy the fruits of devolution together. Correct me when I make mistakes and support me when I make the right decisions for our people,” she said.

Since taking office, Dr Jefwa has participated in initiatives aimed at creating economic opportunities for Lamu residents.

For instance, she hosted the Blue Economy Entrepreneurship and Enterprise Incubation Bootcamp, held on September 10 and 11, 2026.

The event brought together 100 young people and women under the theme “From Funding to Sustainable Enterprise.”

The bootcamp offered training, business clinics, networking opportunities, and financing opportunities to the young people who attended.

Okwara left Citizen on October 27 after working at the station for more than eight years.

Shuga Global is an educational entertainment company that was formerly known as the MTV Staying Alive Foundation.

Its operations include the production and distribution of video, audio, and digital content.

You may remember Shuga as the company behind the popular MTV Shuga drama series that aired in Kenya in 2009 before expanding to South Africa, Nigeria, and India.

Currently, its productions are broadcast in 40 African countries.

The MTV Shuga series featured popular Kenyan actresses like Lupita Nyong’o, who played Ayira, and singer Avril Nyambura.

Other actors like Nick Mutuma and Brenda Wairimu have also featured in earlier editions of the franchise.

The organization uses entertainment to educate young people about various issues that affect their lives, such as relationships and mental well-being.

Shuga’s most recent production in Kenya was the MTV Shuga Mashariki, which featured Kenyan performers like Serah Wanjiru, Matthew Ngotho and Basil Mungai.

The first season of the series recorded over 5 million views. The second season was aired on Citizen TV and surpassed over 8 million views on YouTube.

The organization has also worked with Shujaaz Inc on Surround Sound Kenya on a five-year project aimed at youth empowerment.

Shuga Global’s rebranding from Staying Alive Foundation happened on 16^th April 2026 during a launch that was held at KOFISI Square in Nairobi.

The rebranding followed the conclusion of the company’s partnership with the entertainment behemoth Paramount at the end of March 2026.

During the launch, Shuga Global introduced a new project called the Mashariki Offscript Podcast.

The podcast will be hosted by Makena Kahuha and former Kiss FM presenter Muchina Maloba, with the episodes being aired on Spotify, YouTube, as well as other digital platforms.

It featured a series of conversations with youths from the University of Nairobi, Egerton University and Jaramogi Oginga Odinga University of Science and Technology.

When announcing Okwara’s appointment, Shuga described her as a seasoned communications professional who has experience in TV journalism and corporate communications.

“As Shuga Global rebrands and expands its worldwide reach, Yvonne will leverage her expertise in business, policy, and social impact to build strategic relationships, unlock funding, and mobilize resources,” Shuga Global stated.

Okwara’s new role will entail building strategic partnerships, attracting investors, and mobilising resources to support Shuga’s programs.

The Kianda High School alumnus will work with charitable foundations, international development organisations, businesses interested in social-impact projects and public institutions.

Okwara, whom some people had nicknamed the queen of political interviews, announced her departure from Citizen during her final appearance on The Explainer on Tuesday, October 27, 2026.

She holds a Bachelor of Science degree from the Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT), where she graduated in 2006.

The Editorial Director of Royal Media Services, Mr Linus Kaikai, stated that Okwara’s exit from Citizen was one of the toughest exits he had handled.

In Kenya, developers cannot simply put up buildings wherever they want.

They must obtain the required approvals from the county government and register their construction projects with the National Construction Authority (NCA).

In this article, WoK has identified six officials whose offices play important roles in approving all buildings constructed within Nairobi County.

1. Patrick Mbogo, CECM for Built Environment and Urban Planning

Patrick Mbogo is the County Executive Committee Member (CECM) responsible for Built Environment and Urban Planning in Nairobi.

He leads the Nairobi County department which is responsible for regulating how land is used and how buildings are developed.

Under Section 57 of the Physical and Land Use Planning Act, 2019, Mbogo’s office plays a key role in deciding whether proposed developments in Nairobi County can proceed.

In June 2026, the county government directed that urgent building approval applications be handled by Mbogo while Nairobi’s Urban Planning Technical Committee was being reorganised.

2. Dominic Mutegi, Acting Chief Officer for Urban Development and Planning

Dominic Mutegi is the Acting Chief Officer responsible for Urban Development and Planning in Nairobi County.

Mutegi was appointed on June 5, 2026, following the suspension of former Chief Officer Patrick Analo.

Mutegi’s department handles the administrative and technical processes involved in reviewing building applications.

He is responsible for coordinating planning officers, accepting and reviewing applications for new buildings that want to be constructed, and managing development control activities.

3. Tom Achar, Acting County Director of Planning

A February 2026 report by the Commission on Administrative Justice identifiedTom Achar as the Director of Planning, Compliance and Enforcement in Nairobi County.

His department is responsible for handling and dealing with buildings that have not met planning regulations.

For example, if a developer begins constructing a building without permission or adds unauthorised floors, Achar’s enforcement department can investigate and take action against them.

During a Nairobi County Assembly committee meeting in September 2026, Achar stated that shortages of staff and equipment were affecting the ability of his office to perform its duties effectively.

4. Fredrick Ondari Ochanda, Development Control Official

Fredrick Ondari Ochanda is the Assistant Director of Development Control in Nairobi County.

His office is involved in examining proposed building projects to check whether they meet all requirements before approval.

For example, they examine whether the building meets the required height, has the right sanitation plan, proper use of land, and whether all the right technical reviews have been completed.

His office is also involved in the preparation of applications for consideration through the county’s planning approval process.

5. Susan Chepkorir Rutto, Acting Executive Director of NCA

Susan Chepkorir Rutto is the Acting Executive Director and Registrar of Contractors at the National Construction Authority.

She was appointed to the position effective September 4, 2026.

Her responsibilities are national, meaning the NCA regulates construction projects on a national level.

Her office is responsible for regulating Kenya’s construction industry and registering construction projects and contractors.

They also inspect whether buildings under construction comply with set rules, and if not, take action against construction projects that violate requirements.

6. Stephen Mwilu, NCA Manager for Compliance

Architect Stephen Mwilu is the National Construction Authority’s Manager for Compliance.

His responsibilities include coordinating regional offices and activities related to project registration, quality assurance, and enforcement of construction regulations.

This makes his department important in checking whether construction projects follow all the necessary rules.

NCA compliance activities include inspecting projects and following up on cases where construction regulations may have been violated.

Mwilu’s office also handles matters relating to enforcement of the National Building Code and the construction industry’s Code of Conduct.

She took over the role in August 2023 and is basically responsible for transforming healthcare services for the people of Nairobi.

Nairobi County has about 124 health facilities with over 4000 health workers and an additional 7800 health extension workers.

Aside from healthcare, Silantoi is also responsible for overseeing the Nairobi County School Feeding Programme, known as “Dishi na County”.

The program reportedly distributes over 300,000 subsidized, nutritionally balanced, hot meals every school day for all children in public primary schools and public ECD centers in Nairobi County.

But who exactly is Suzanne Silantoi?

Suzanne Silantoi’s Background

Silantoi was born and raised in Nairobi and is half-caste of the Maasai and Samburu communities.

She attended Moi Girls High School before joining Kenyatta University, where she graduated in 2015 with a Bachelor of Music degree.

She later earned a Master’s degree in Public Policy Analysis from the University of York. Her LinkedIn profile also indicates that she holds a certificate in Political Economic Risk Analysis from Stellenbosch University.

Silantoi first attracted national attention in 2017 when, at just 23 years old, she ran for the Nairobi senatorial seat.

Among her competitors was Johnson Sakaja, who later became Nairobi governor.

In 2022, she switched camps and joined Sakaja’s campaign team, and when he was successfully elected as governor, Sakaja appointed her as a County Executive Committee (CEC) member for Inclusivity, Public Participation and Customer Service.

In 2023, she was promoted to a higher docket, becoming the CEC in charge of the Nairobi County’s health programs.

Before joining the county government, Silantoi worked as a policy analyst for Africa Practice.

Before that, she was working as a program officer for the Nairobi-based Centre for Behaviour Change and Communication.

Suzanne Silantoi’s Net Worth

Suzanne Silantoi’s net worth became public during her vetting by the Nairobi County Assembly in 2022.

During the exercise, she declared that she was worth at least KSh 36 million, including savings of about KSh 900,000.

She attributed her wealth to shared family property, including ancestral tracts of land in Samburu County, saying that she hailed from a family of one sibling.

Suzanne Silantoi’s Salary and Allowances

As a County Executive Committee Member (CECM), Silantoi’s salary is determined and reviewed by the Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC), which is also responsible for determining the salaries of other state officers.

SRC remuneration reports estimate that CECMs in Kenya earn a basic salary of KSh 242,550 per month.

They also receive an airtime allowance of KSh 10,000 per month, as well as a monthly house allowance of ksh 80,000.

CECs are also entitled to official transport provided by the county government, which includes a vehicle with an engine capacity not exceeding 2000cc.

Additionally, they are entitled to annual medical insurance for themselves, one spouse, and up to four dependent children under 25 years.

The cover includes ksh 3 million for inpatient services, ksh 200 000 for outpatient services, ksh 100 000 for maternity services, ksh 50 000 for dental services, and ksh 50 000 for optical services.

CECMs may also access a ksh 4 million car loan and a mortgage of up to KSh 20 million, at the rate of 3% p.a

Controversy

Silantoi’s tenure as a CECM has not been without blemishes.

Since 2023, she has become a central figure during prolonged strikes by doctors, nurses, clinical officers, and other Nairobi County health workers, appearing several times before the County Assembly Health Committee.

Various medical unions have also accused the county government of delays in promotions, gratuity payments, insurance issues, and implementation of previous agreements.

Silantoi has also been criticized for her management of Nairobi’s health sector, including staffing, promotions, labor relations, and service delivery.

However, she has consistently defended the county’s record, arguing that most grievances had either been resolved or were being addressed.

In the show, Ngina travels across Kenya, showcasing successful farmers, modern farming techniques, livestock rearing, crop production, and other ways that Kenyan farmers are increasing productivity.

But despite her obvious zeal and enthusiasm towards an industry that many consider to be the backbone of Kenya’s economy, you may be surprised to learn that Ngina started out with very little background in the agricultural sector.

Speaking on the Organic Guy Podcast, Ngina explained that she was an outgoing child who enjoyed performing.

In class five, she joined the exciting and chaotic world of boarding school, where she quickly stood out as a singer and dancer.

“I used to go in front of the class and sing for a whole two hours, dancing for people,” she recalled.

Agriculture never featured in her plans. Like most families, her parents would take her on upcountry visits to meet relatives.

She saw them engaging in farm work, but she was not particularly interested in it.

“I didn’t see myself doing anything in the agricultural sector; I was an entertainment girl,” she said.

After high school, Ngina worked in the communications department at Strathmore University, writing website stories and interviewing lecturers.

She later joined Kenyatta University to study fashion and design.

Through her course, she gained skills that enabled her to land gigs that involved styling artists for music videos and making outfits for weddings.

At 19, she walked into Homeboyz Radio without an appointment and asked for a job as a presenter.

The station rejected her bid and instead gave her a job as a sales executive, and she landed feet first in the world of radio advertising.

After working for several months, she joined KTN, where she landed a job that involved covering events.

Things were going well until the COVID pandemic hit Kenya, and Ngina lost her KTN job as the company restructured.

Ever the go-getter, she contacted flamboyant politician and former Milele FM presenter Jalang’o, who was building an online media business.

He agreed to hire her, and she began presenting an entertainment segment on Jalang’o TV. She later moved into acting, appearing in productions on Maisha Magic.

All this while, Ngina was figuring out how she would get her foot in the doors of Citizen TV.

Each time she drove past the station, she imagined working there and hosting popular shows like 10 over 10.

“I used to tell God, ‘God, I need to work for Citizen. I need to work for Citizen,’” she said.

Her efforts and prayers paid off, and one day Citizen TV invited people to audition for a new agricultural show.

Despite having no farming background, Ngina accepted.

The audition took place in a greenhouse, a setting that she had hitherto never been familiar with.

Soon afterwards, she received an offer from Citizen, which coincided with another offer she received to be part of Jiffy Productions, a film company associated with Lulu Hassan and Rashid Abdalla.

Ngina accepted Citizen’s offer, and she was immediately thrown into the heavyweight category.

Her first interview guest was then Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua. The interview was successful, and Ngina went on to do hundreds more others.

Today, she is in her third year of presenting Kenya’s Gold, which airs on weekdays.

The job has taken her across Kenya and to other countries, including Uganda, Tanzania, South Africa, and the United States

She also runs her business, which involves processing and selling coffee.

The Kenyan-Indian sprinter represents the United States International University-Africa (USIU-Africa), and attributes her success to hard work, dedication and discipline.

In a recent interview with SportyFM Kenya, Janvi said that her interest in running was sparked when she was in nursery school at Oshwal Academy in Nairobi.

This was when her parents noticed her talent during school sports days, and they encouraged her to continue participating in races.

“My parents actually got me into sprinting. They nurtured my talent,” she said.

For most of her early primary years, she dominated most school races.

However, things changed when she clinched third place in a race while in grade seven, and her disappointment was so great that she decided to begin training seriously.

With help from her father, she began jogging and training at home to improve her performance.

She later completed her primary and secondary education at Oshwal Academy, where she studied under the British education system and took her A-levels.

Supportive parents

In grade 12, she decided to pursue athletics professionally, and her parents were very supportive.

Her father, an engineer who was interested in bodybuilding and athletics, would adjust his work schedule to take her to Kasarani Stadium for training sessions during weekends.

He also bought her athletics equipment and worked closely with her coach to understand different training techniques.

Her mother also encouraged her. “Janvi, it’s not a must to win so long as you do better than you did before,” she said.

Sadly, her father passed away in January 2021, just four days after she turned 19.

Her father’s death marked the beginning of Janvi’s problems, as her family was plagued by financial difficulties.

Her mother was now the breadwinner, and her brother had his hands full managing the family business.

Knee problems

To compound these problems, Janvi developed knee problems which forced her to stop running temporarily and concentrate on rehabilitation exercises.

“I got to a point where I was like, ‘What am I doing here?'” she recalled.

Her coach, Gatana, remained supportive, encouraging her and helping her recover.

To support herself, Janvi decided to find employment.

She secured a job as an assistant manager at Chandarana Foodplus supermarket, working at the General Mathenge and Lavington branches.

She would finish training at Kasarani Stadium, travel to Lavington for work, and go back home at around 9 pm.

With her earnings, she bought the training equipment she needed and was also able to meet other athletics expenses.

As a Kenyan-Indian woman athlete, she was often stereotyped, with some people assuming that she was only training for fun and would eventually abandon the sport.

“People would be like, this Indian is running, you know, they’ve never seen an Indian running,” she recalled.

However, she continued working hard despite the discouragement.

Rather than taking up long-distance running that many Kenyan athletes are famed for, she decided to take up sprinting, where it would be easier for her to stand out.

One of her biggest achievements came during the East African Universities Championships in Kampala, Uganda, where she won the 100-metre race despite having hip and knee problems.

Janvi also won silver in the 200 metres and received the USIU-Africa Most Valuable Player athlete award.

Aside from athletics, she is a student at USIU-Africa, where she is pursuing a degree in International Business Administration.

She also runs a fashion sportswear business, with most of her clients being fellow athletes.

Looking ahead, she hopes to compete at the 2028 Olympic Games and the 2029 World Championships.

“We’re aiming to run in the Olympics and then the World Championships in 2029,” she said.

She is the first female Kenyan lawyer to assume the role and will be operating between Nairobi and Dubai.

Announcing her appointment on LinkedIn, Akinyi said she was excited about joining Apple and thanked those who had supported her career.

“I’m excited to announce my new role as Head of Government Affairs & Public Policy, East Africa at Apple. Many thanks to everyone who’s been part of the journey- it takes a village. I look forward to this next chapter and to contributing to an amazing team. I’ll be in between Nairobi and Dubai; feel free to connect,” she said.

Akinyi has a background in International Trade Law, regulatory affairs, and commercial law. As a lawyer, she has especially specialized in arbitration, real estate, and banking.

She joined Apple from the American Chamber of Commerce Kenya (AmCham Kenya), where she was working as the policy lead.

She also helped develop policies on AI governance, data centre licensing, cloud infrastructure, and cross-border data flows.

Before joining AmCham, Akinyi worked at TripleOKLaw LLP, where she was in charge of commercial law, international arbitration, and dispute resolution.

Akinyi’s academic repertoire features an LLB Degree from the University of Nairobi, where she graduated in December 2022.

She also has a certification in generative AI Governance training at the University of Michigan.

Akinyi is also a member of the Independent Continental Youth Advisory Board on AfCFTA, representing the organisation at the national and international level.

She is also a representative of the Afronomicslaw Academic Forum (East Africa).

In her new role at Apple, she will oversee the company’s talks with governments and regulators across the region, while also helping draft laws for the region’s digital economy.

Her appointment comes as more Kenyan women take up senior leadership positions in major international companies.

One of them is Angela Nganga, who was recently appointed by Microsoft as the company’s Country Lead for East Africa.

When announcing the news, Microsoft stated that Akinyi will be advancing the company’s commitment to empowering people, governments, and organizations across Kenya and the larger East African region.

She will also support Microsoft’s efforts at enhancing digital and AI transformation across the region.

Nganga, who is based in Nairobi, joined Microsoft in 2012 and served as the company’s Regional Director of Customer Success for East and West Africa.

She has also held senior positions and roles at Telkom Kenya and AAR Health Services Ltd.

Another Kenyan lawyer who has risen to a senior corporate position is Kathryne Maundu.

In 2026, Maundu, aged 48, was appointed Company Secretary at British American Tobacco (BAT) Kenya.

She is an Advocate of the High Court of Kenya as well as an accomplished governance professional with over two decades of experience in corporate governance, company secretarial practice, and board advisory.

She has also served as company secretary for Safaricom, East African Breweries (EABL), British American Tobacco Kenya, Eaagads Limited, and NCBA Group.

She holds a Bachelor of Laws Degree from the University of Nairobi, a Diploma in Law from Kenya School of Law, and other certifications in Corporate Law and International Business Law from the University of London.

He is the founding pastor of Mamlaka Hill Chapel, a multi-campus church that is based in Ruaka, along the Northern Bypass and opposite the Two Rivers Mall.

For almost 20 years, he has been the face of the ministry and was eventually ordained bishop before his recent dramatic fallout with church leadership.

Court documents suggest that Muhia founded Mamlaka Hill Chapel in August 2005, although it was officially registered on September 10, 2014.

The church adopted the vision: “Empowered to Transform Lives, Society and the World.”

Over time, Muhia’s ministry grew, and Mamlaka Hill Chapel grew into one of Nairobi’s most vibrant evangelical ministries, with other branches in Nairobi, Kisumu, and Diani.

Additionally, it attracted numerous congregants based in other countries like Berlin, Germany, and New Jersey, United States.

Rise from pastor to Bishop

Court documents suggest that Muhia entered into a formal employment contract as Senior Pastor on January 11, 2011.

He redoubled his efforts, and the church’s ministry expanded to social media platforms such as Mamlaka Hill Chapel’s YouTube channel.

Unlike many city pastors, Muhia gained a reputation of being  a teaching pastor rather than a flamboyant televangelist.

His sermons mostly centered on themes such as marriage, parenting, spiritual growth, and discipleship practices.

On November 3, 2019, Muhia was officially ordained as a presiding Bishop. He also became the church’s principal public spokesperson and chief spiritual leader of the ministry.

Court documents suggest that as a bishop, his gross monthly salary reportedly rose from KSh384,314 to KSh1,236,147.

This package also included other employment benefits that other senior leaders within the church were entitled to.

A staunch family man, available church materials strongly suggest that Muhia is married to Rev. Maggie Ng’ang’a.

The pair have frequently been associated with family and marriage ministry activities within Mamlaka Hill Chapel.

Controversy

One of the most significant controversies of Muhia’s career occurred on March 27, 2026, when Mamlaka Hill issued him with a show cause notice over allegations of gross misconduct.

The notice was quickly followed by his summary dismissal on June 25, 2026.

The dismissal came months after Muhia was involved in a bitter legal tussle with one of his long-serving church members.

The member accused the bishop of allegedly having an affair with his wife, who had been an employee of the church, and subsequently ruining his marriage.

The accuser claimed that he discovered the relationship in October after accessing a mobile phone that his wife had previously been using before she handed it to their daughter.

According to court records, one of the steamy messages that the accuser found on the phone was from the Bishop telling her, “Tomorrow, we’re showering in my office. It’s you and me. It’s why I need you in my life,” accompanied by winking emojis.

These accusations, among others of gross misconduct, were part of what led to his dismissal from Mamlaka Chapel.

Court battles

Following his dismissal, Muhia swiftly moved to the Employment and Labour Relations Court in Nairobi to push for his reinstatement.

He filed a petition against four church officials, contesting the disciplinary process and removal of his ordination.

Additionally, he sought over ksh 21 million in compensation and payment for unused leave.

He alleged that his disciplinary hearing was conducted unfairly, arguing that he was not given the chance to present all his evidence and witnesses.

He also asked for compensation for damages over legal costs and constitutional violations.

His resolve to open the facility began when he was 25 years old, working as an intern at a public hospital in central Kenya.

It was during that time that he encountered firsthand the challenges plaguing Kenya’s healthcare system, such as frequent power outages and shortages of key medical supplies.

Okoth’s eureka moment happened one day as he was doing his rounds in the hospital’s theatre.

“While working as an intern, I saw a gap in the area of access and provision of affordable health care, and that’s when this dream started. There was a huge health need in the country that needed to be fixed, especially in maternal and child health care,” he said.

After graduating with a degree in medicine fom the University of Nairobi in 2010, Okoth decided to venture into the healthcare business, settling on Ruai as his area of operation.

Ruai was a prime location because it had a shortage of professionally run healthcare facilities, meaning the competition was minimal.

Despite his young age, Okoth was already a seasoned entrepreneur, having been involved in developing Kenya’s first e-commerce platform known as mkopa.co.ke during his university days.

He opened the doors of Ruai Hospital on September 11, 2011, using a KSh 300,000 loan he had taken from his mother’s retirement funds.

The first people he hired were a lab technician and a clinical officer.

He used his salary as a doctor at the district hospital to pay their salaries and meet his hospital’s day-to-day costs before the business became profitable.

“I was paying the employees, including rent and buying clinic supplies from my pocket, and as an intern, I was just being paid 48,000 shillings,” said Okoth, who hails from Homa Bay County.

In 2012, his business was severely affected after he was transferred to the Nyeri Provincial Hospital, which is located 150 km away from Nairobi.

In December that year, he was travelling from Nyeri to visit his facility when he was involved in a gruesome road accident that left his car damaged beyond repair.

Insurance paid him KSh 600,000 as compensation, which Okoth decided to invest in his business. He used the money to make a down payment for an X-ray machine, an ultrasound machine, and other theatre equipment.

The equipment was worth about ksh 4 million, and the terms of purchase were that he would fork out Ksh 232,000 in monthly loan repayments.

“I had no idea where I was going to get the money. I only had faith that things would work out in my favour,” he explained.

He hoped that with the new equipment he could attract patients who were visiting the nearby under-equipped public hospital.

Unfortunately, things did not work out as he expected, and he was forced to take a bank loan to find the money for his first repayment.

However, when he found time to visit his clinic and conduct a proper audit of his books, he was surprised to learn that his staff had been sabotaging his business.

They had been reporting an average of six patients daily, but Okoth served 20 patients on the first day that he spent at the clinic.

“So I fired all of them,” he said. ” This was like a rebirth of Ruai Family Hospital. It’s always dark before dawn,” he said.

In June 2014, he received a loan of ksh 8 million from the government-run Youth Development Enterprise Fund (YDEF), which he used to boost his business.

He relocated the clinic to an imposing modern three-story building in Ruai town and quickly became the largest private healthcare facility in the area.

By then, the hospital had 40 beds and had employed 12 permanent employees, with Okoth even affording to hire top doctors when needed.

The hospital served about 60 patients daily and was even listed with all major insurance facilities in the country, including the National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF).

In 2017, Okoth bought land in Ruai and began building a landmark hospital in 2019.

On completion, he named the 100-bed facility the RSF Family Hospital, preserving the ‘DNA’ of his first business.

Today, Ruai Family Hospital operates 11 branches across Nairobi and other towns such as Ruiru, Imara Daima, and Kiambu Road.