This man Mutahi Kagwe

His biggest break came in 2005, when former President Mwai Kibaki appointed him to his Cabinet as Minister for Information Communication and Technology (ICT).

It is during his stint as ICT Minister that Kenya ditched satellite technology and embraced Fibre Optic Cables that would see a drastic drop in call tariffs and increase in internet speeds, thus changing how Kenyans communicated with each other and the rest of the world forever.

Mr Kagwe, along with his Permanent Secretary Dr Bitange Ndemo, spearheaded construction of the Transformational East African Marine System (TEAMS), the first Fibre Optic Project for Eastern Africa.

It was also during his tenure that Safaricom’s M-Pesa was launched, being the first ever mobile money transfer system in the world.

In 2007, he disappeared from active politics after losing his Mukurweini seat to Kabando Wa Kabando. For the next five years, he stayed out of public office but made a comeback in 2013, this time running for Senate on the Narc party ticket.

He won the seat, becoming the first Senator for Nyeri County and chairing the Senate Committee on Information and Technology as well as serving on the Senate Committee of Finance and Budget and the Liaison Committee.

In 2017, he gunned for the Nyeri gubernatorial seat, battling it out with former Governors Samuel Wamathai and the late Wahome Gakuru for the Jubilee Party ticket.

After being edged out by his opponents, he again put aside active politics after the 2017 defeat.

He would remain largely silent and away from the public limelight for the next two years until October 2019 when he was appointed to the board of the Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (EPRA).

His appointment came at the expense of Dr Macharia Irungu, whose position was revoked by Cabinet Secretary for Energy Charles Keter.

Before Mr Kenyatta nominated him as Cabinet Secretary for Health, his involvement as the masters of ceremonies during a Mt Kenya leaders meeting in Sagana State Lodge presided over by the President sent tongues wagging on whether he was being prepped for another stint in national politics.

Mr Kagwe took a leading role in the day’s activities while inviting key speakers.

Additionally, he was among the senior politicians that Mr Kenyatta opted to sit with at the high table during the high-profile meeting, edging out the younger politicians.