How Meru's 'perfect deputy' became the man who replaced his boss

Before the bitter fallout with former Meru Governor Kawira Mwangaza, Isaac Mutuma was the perfect Deputy Governor, always at the beck and call of his boss.

Mutuma, a Reverend in the Methodist Church in Kenya (MCK) and a son of the late Njuri Ncheke Supreme Council of Ameru elders Paul M'Ethingia, was a staunch defender and firm supporter of Ms Mwangaza.

In four separate impeachment motions against Mwangaza, Mutuma actively rallied support for his superior, accompanying her to the Senate and making considerable efforts to demonstrate his backing.

That was until cracks started to emerge in the political relationship that Mwangaza and Mutuma had propagated. Cracks that finally led to Mwangaza's impeachment in the fifth round.

That relationship had started when the former Woman Rep decided to run for Governor in 2022 and picked Mutuma, then a senior prisons service officer, as her running mate.

They spectacularly beat political titans Kiraitu Murungi, the incumbent, and former Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Mithika Linturi in a historic moment in Meru's political history.

For some time after taking over Mwangaza, a bishop in the Baite Family Fellowship and Mutuma were the perfect political couple, always together in public appearances, and then the Members of the County Assembly (MCAs) kicked off the efforts to impeach Mwangaza in late November 2022.

There were a record five impeachment attempts against Mwangaza, and Mutuma threw his weight behind his boss in four of them.

But in the penultimate impeachment effort, which ushered in Mutuma as Meru's fourth governor that relationship disintegrated.

In the lead-up to Mwangaza's impeachment, as she fought to save her political life, she had accused him of betrayal and working with her political opponents, who included Meru Senator and Senate Deputy Speaker Kathuri Murungi.

He kept out of cabinet meetings and, at one point, claimed his life was in danger.

At the heart of the split were claims of nepotism, sabotage and exclusion.

Mutuma claimed Mwangaza was no longer inviting him to meetings, and his official vehicles had been confiscated.

He claimed he was being undermined, and some of his staff had been sacked.

“I have not been invited to cabinet meetings since May (2024),” he said, adding that he was “totally isolated”.

He said he was no longer recognised at events where Mwangaza issued briefs on development matters. 

“My office has been denied funds that run the office of deputy governor,” he said, adding that he was never consulted in the appointment of executives, chief officers and directors.

Mutuma defended the fact that some of his staff were close to him, saying the law allows one to have people they can trust.

“The law allows one to have people (employees) you can trust, even for security purposes. Even the governor has people she trusts working with her,” he said.

Mwangaza had dismissed those claims, saying the staff Mutuma claimed were fired had been dismissed for lack of academic qualifications.

But Mwangaza produced a letter from the County Public Service Board approving the sacking of Mutuma’s staff.

“We sacked staff with fake degrees,” she said.

Mutuma said the split threatened to derail the county government’s contribution to support President William Ruto’s bottom-up economic model.

“I appeal to the President and the DP to intervene and resolve the political impasse in Meru between elected leaders for peace and harmony to prevail,” he said.

Mwangaza had said she was focused on delivering her development projects, and whoever felt dissatisfied might as well move out.

“Whoever is not satisfied can get out. If you feel the government is not accommodating you well and you are restricted and cannot participate in development, you might as well get out," she had said. 

His endurance was tested greatly.

From the relocation of his office from the Governor's offices to the old municipal offices across the road, the sacking of his staff, and the confiscation of his official vehicle, Mutuma endured all.

But when he assumed power, he had a chance to make some changes, and many staff blamed for his troubles were sent packing, save for one cabinet member (Monica Kathono).

Among the first to go were Chief of Staff Harrison Gitonga and County Secretary Dr Kiambi Atheru.

While a lot of water has gone under the bridge, Mutuma is firmly in the 2027 governor's race, where Munya, Mwangaza and Linturi are expected to feature.

He says he is now busy delivering pledges he made when he was sworn in in March this year.

Political analyst Prof. Gitile Naituli says Mutuma has done well as county boss so far, and his chances of retaining the seat come 2027 look good.

"Governor Mutuma stands on solid political ground heading into 2027. His leadership has been defined by integrity, inclusivity, and a genuine commitment to restoring dignity in public service, qualities that resonate deeply with the people of Meru. Unlike many leaders driven by theatrics, his politics is anchored in values, performance, and moral authority," said Prof. Naituli, who hails from Munya's Tigania region.

He opined that it is the development record that voters will assess.

Naituli said, "He has prioritised service delivery over self-promotion, focusing on improving farmer incomes, youth employment, health services, and environmental sustainability. These are tangible results that voters can see and feel. The governor has also managed to maintain a delicate balance among Meru’s diverse sub-regions and political interests, an achievement that few leaders in the county’s history can claim."

Mutuma's ability to engage ordinary people has endeared him to the people. 

"Politically, his calm, ethical, and development-focused style is refreshing in a noisy and polarised environment. If he sustains this momentum, staying people-centred, transparent, and unifying, his re-election chances remain very strong. The electorate today are wiser; they reward performance and authenticity, and that’s exactly where M’Ethingia has built his brand," he stated.