I don’t need Nairobi, it needs me! Moses Kuria
Former Public Service Cabinet Secretary Moses Kuria is making it clear that he’s eyeing the 2027 Nairobi gubernatorial race. He’s framing his potential run not as a personal quest for power, but as a necessary response to what he sees as deep-seated structural issues in the capital.
In a recent interview with digital media outlets at the home of Morris Ogeta, who was once the personal bodyguard to the late ex-Prime Minister Raila Odinga, Kuria shared his thoughts while in Uyoma, Siaya County. He emphasized that he doesn’t see the governorship as crucial for his political future.
Instead, he believes Nairobi desperately needs a leader who can drive significant change.
“I don’t need Nairobi, Nairobi needs me. I can survive without being governor or something,” he said.
Kuria took a moment to think about his recent bid for the Kiambu governorship, choosing to step back from the results and instead concentrate on the actual governance outcomes.
“I tried to be the Governor of Kiambu, I didn’t make it. I am not worse, Kiambu county is worse,” he remarked.
Kuria, positioning himself as a reform-minded technocrat, expressed that his main motivation stems from a genuine desire to rescue Nairobi, a city he sees as struggling with deep-rooted issues and decay.
“I’m just trying to save Nairobi, and if Nairobi thinks they have a better person, so be it,” he said, adding that he would respect the electorate’s decision should they choose otherwise.
Kuria painted a rather bleak picture of the current state of the capital, insisting that small, incremental fixes just won’t cut it.
“Nairobi is in a terrible mess,” he said. “Nairobi is a big slum sprinkled with few green places.”
He believes that the city’s issues call for a complete overhaul instead of just quick fixes. Drawing inspiration from other countries, Kuria suggested a bold idea: building a new city to ease congestion and bring the capital into the modern age.
“If I was governor of Nairobi I would create a new city just like Nigeria did. Nigeria could have fixed Lagos but they created Abuja,” he said. “Nairobi requires re-engineering not repairing.”
He based his pitch on what he called his extensive global experience, explaining that his work advising governments and multinational companies overseas has given him valuable insights into what makes cities truly functional.
“I am a widely travelled person. I still do it, I advise big companies and governments abroad. I know what is possible and what is not possible,” Kuria said.
Kuria emphasized that the intricate challenges facing Nairobi require leaders who possess both a clear vision and a solid grasp of technical details.
“Only someone like me who is widely travelled with relevant experience can fix it,” he asserted.
He emphasized that his willingness to engage depends on the support from the public, adopting a friendly and open approach towards the voters.
“If Nairobi wants I’m available; if they don’t want the village is waiting for me,” he said, before concluding with a goodwill message: “I wish Nairobi nothing by the very best.”
I don’t need Nairobi, it needs me! Moses Kuria
