Joseph Mboya Nyamuthe is a Kenya businessman and politician.
The 2022 parliamentary aspirant grabbed national headlines when he was arrested and detained in Burundi.
The businessman has vast interests with bases in Kenya and Burundi.
Background & Education
Nyamuthe was born in 1970 in Central Gem Rangwe Constituency, Homa Bay County. He is the son of late former journalist Peter Nyamuthe. The late journalist served in various capacities at the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting.
The 41 year old started his early education in Nairobi before moving to Uganda where he pursued his “O” and “A” Levels. He later proceeded to Yaoundé, Cameroon where he pursued Civil Engineering.
Nyamuthe is a son in law of Hezekiah Oyugi, former Permanent Secretary in the late President Daniel Moi regime.
Career
Nyamuthe is reported to have worked briefly in the country before venturing into business where he found his foot hold.
Businesses
The businessman set up a sweet potato processing plant at Ndiru in Kagan Location, and another cassava processing factory in Gem Location within Rangwe constituency.
He established the plants with an aim of creating jobs for the youths in his home county.
On November 27, 2019, he launched PONA Pharmaceutical company in Burundi, in an event that was attended by late Burundi President Pierre Nkurunziza and Kenyan Deputy Head of Mission, Ms. Sylvane Chongwony.
The company manufactures and imports medicine into Burundi.
Politics
In 2019, Nyamuthe declared interest in the Rangwe Constituency parliamentary seat currently held by Martin Otiende Ogindo.
To bulk up his bid, Nyamuthe has over the years traversed the region engaging members of the public on the necessary development projects required in the constituency.
He is a known generous figure in his community, having donated to various causes and welfare groups.
In his declaration, Nyamuthe identified sustainable agriculture and rural enterprise projects as the cornerstones of building and developing Rangwe.
“To enhance household food security, To improve health status of the households members and communities as a whole, To alleviate severe poverty which has been there for long.
“Improve economic status of the people of Rangwe, and Increase Education status of the poor,” Nyamuthe lists on his Facebook page as key initiatives of his projects.
Detention
The businessman was arrested and detained in Burundi in March 2021. This is after the police arrested a Turkish national suspected to have been involved in drug trafficking and established his connections to Nyamuthe.
He was accused alongside the Turkish national of smuggling drugs through Somalia into Burundi under the disguise of medicine.
It is believed he was working with top government officials.
Escape
Nyamuthe was held at the Murembwe Central prison.
It was reported that, he developed symptoms of Cholera and was rushed to Rumonge hospital for treatment. It is at the facility that Nyamuthe escaped.
He escaped while under the guard of two security officers. They have since been arrested and accused of aiding his escape.
It is believed that Nyamuthe’s arrest and detention was discussed between President Uhur Kenyatta and his Burundi counterpart Evariste Ndayishimiye when the latter visited the country on June 1, 2021.
