By Bonface Mulyungi
Nzioka Waita, the former confidant of Uhuruto during the Jubillee first term-2013 to 2017 has formally joined President Ruto.
This move marks a fresh chapter for a man who has moved between the corporate world and the corridors of power, and whose presence in Ukambani carries both symbolic weight and practical political value.
Waita’s rise is a story of professional credibility meeting political opportunity. Recruited from Safaricom Plc into the Jubilee administration, he was appointed head of the Presidential Delivery Unit, a role that placed him at the centre of government planning and public messaging.
He served as Chief of Staff to President Uhuru Kenyatta, a post that made him one of the most visible technocrats in the administration.
In 2022, Waita left the technocratic lane for elective politics, contesting the Machakos gubernatorial seat where he lost to Wavinya Ndeti of Wiper.
Born in Kalama, Machakos County, Waita is the son of Raphael Mwangangi Waita, a businessman once associated with Caltex in the region. Thas family background, combined with his professional reputation, gives him a rare blend of local familiarity and national visibility.
Locals describe him as, “a polished professional and technocrat who speaks the language of delivery and results” this image is attractive for political operators.
For President Ruto, bringing Waita into the fold will be an asset to the two-term team, owing to his huge visibility in Ukambani where he is a respected professional in a region which has been long associated with Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka, who is highly staked for presidential opposition flagbearer.
His corporate and public‑sector résumé bolsters the administration’s claims of competence and results.
These assets make Waita a useful ally in the short term and a figure to watch as political alignments shift ahead of 2027.
Reports suggest Waita harbours presidential ambitions of his own. Whether those ambitions are long game positioning or a genuine bid remains to be seen, but his move into Ruto’s camp sets up a potential contest for influence in Ukambani — a region where Kalonzo Musyoka has been a dominant force.
If Waita chooses to pursue higher office, he will face the twin tasks of building a grassroots machine and translating his technocratic appeal into votes. That path will likely bring him into direct competition with established regional leaders and test how much sway professional credibility can carry in Kenya’s electoral politics.
