Musalia Mudavadi’s leadership continues to expose how disconnected the country’s top officials have become from the daily struggles of ordinary Kenyans.
As Prime Cabinet Secretary, Mudavadi has placed himself at the center of the Nairobi Railways City project, a massive 438-acre urban renewal plan that is supposed to change how Nairobi functions.
But instead of delivering meaningful progress, he’s become known for photo ops, expensive trips abroad, and empty speeches.
The recent visit to King’s Cross Railway City in London, where Mudavadi accompanied President William Ruto, is just another example of how this government chooses optics over outcomes.
This was not even the first time they visited King’s Cross. A similar trip took place in October 2023, and since then, there’s been little to show for it. Kenyans are beginning to see a pattern multiple international trips, constant announcements, but no real progress on the ground.
A few drainage upgrades and a pedestrian footbridge are not enough to convince the public that Sh27.9 billion will be put to good use. Instead, people see a government more committed to allowances and foreign travel than actually solving transport and infrastructure issues.
Mudavadi’s role has also raised serious concerns about wastefulness. Critics online, including popular voices like @shobanes, have labeled the project a cover for “purposeful wastage and incompetence.” It’s not just about one trip it’s the repeated pattern of visits and engagements with the UK, all while Nairobi remains congested, dirty, and broken.
Schools are understaffed, hospitals are underfunded, and basic services are crumbling. Yet Mudavadi and his team prioritize handshakes in London over solutions at home.
Even his decision to move his office to the Kenya Railways Headquarters has backfired. While meant to signal commitment to the project, it now looks like a shallow publicity stunt. Instead of being a symbol of progress, the office now stands as a reminder of unfulfilled promises.
Mudavadi keeps talking about transforming the city, but there’s no evidence that his involvement is speeding anything up. If anything, the more he travels, the more Kenyans begin to suspect that these foreign partnerships are just another excuse to burn public funds.
Musalia Mudavadi was entrusted with a senior position to provide leadership and coordination, not to champion expensive foreign tours. The Nairobi Railways City project has potential, but with him at the helm, it risks becoming another flashy idea that never sees completion.
Kenyans deserve better than leadership obsessed with ceremonies while ignoring the need for results.
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