Politician Paul Waiganjo, who is also a gospel singer has stepped down as presidential advisor on development matters.
He tendered his resignation at a press address Friday, September 25, less than four months after President William Ruto appointed him to the position on May 28 and stationed him at State House Nairobi.
Waiganjo had been serving in the Office of Progammes and Special Projects. In resigning, Waiganjo cited the fundamental inability of the role to deliver meaningful change on the ground.
“Because I refuse to hold a mandate I cannot meaningfully execute, I have made the firm, principled, and good faith decision to tender my resignation on this 25th day of September, 2026, at exactly 3 p.m. Kenyan time,” he told journalists.
Why Did Waiganjo Walked Away?
The politician said he had entered a period of deep reflection after realising that the structure of his office left him unable to act on the concerns he had observed across the country, particularly in his home county of Nyandarua.
“Despite attaining the prestigious national appointment, I found a painful and underwhelming mismatch between the confines of my new role in government and the ambitious vision I held for Nyandarua County,” he said.
He described consulting local clergy, seasoned professionals, entrepreneurs, and youth groups before concluding that he could no longer remain in the position in good conscience.
“A profound disconnect existed between my state role and the pressing struggles on the ground.
I began to ask myself, how could I, in good conscience, draw a salary for a redundant position where our local hospitals suffer from critical resources starvation? School dropout rates spiked due to delayed capitation,” Waiganjo said.
He also pointed to economic pressure on traders and workers as among the issues he felt unable to address from within his advisory capacity.
“How could I remain silent while hardworking citizens see their pay slips smothered by relentless statutory deductions? To comfortably occupy a title under such circumstances would be a fundamental betrayal of my oath,” he added.
Waiganjo’s Political Background and What Comes Next Waiganjo had initially accepted the advisory role with optimism, saying he viewed it as a vehicle for delivering development, including school construction, hospital upgrades, borehole drilling, street lighting, and job creation.
“When I accepted the role of our adviser to the president on development matters, I did so with a conviction that it would serve as a vital vehicle to deliver impact across our nation,” he said.
His appointment in May had followed his departure from the Democracy for the Citizens Party (DCP), which he accused of conducting an unfair nomination process ahead of the Ol Kalou MP by-election held on July 16.
Following his resignation, Waiganjo stopped short of announcing his next political move but repeatedly referenced his ambitions for Nyandarua County, hinting at a possible tilt at a county office or a fresh run for the Ol Kalou parliamentary seat in the 2027 general election, without explicitly declaring either.
He, however, declared opposing Ruto immediately, stating that “we’re in one-term movement”, this while urging unity across the Mt Kenya region. Waiganjo counselled the Mt Kenya electorate to enlist as voters if they aim is to remove Ruto from office, noting that the president “won’t be defeated by words of mouth”.
