By Njeri Irungu,
4 March 2026,
Nairobi, Kenya.
Hon. Patrick Musili Mbangula is steadily shaping the future of Kenya’s water sector as Chairperson of the Governing Council of the Kenya Water Institute (KEWI), even as he sets his sights on the Nairobi gubernatorial seat in 2027.
At KEWI, Mbangula heads the Institute’s top governing organ, offering strategic oversight and policy leadership to an institution central to training and research in water, sanitation and irrigation. His tenure has focused on strengthening governance structures, enhancing institutional accountability and aligning KEWI’s mandate with national development priorities.
He is currently overseeing the implementation and review of the Institute’s 2023–2027 Strategic Plan, aimed at transforming KEWI into a Technical Centre of Excellence. The reforms seek to expand professional training, deepen research capacity and build stronger partnerships within the water sector to address critical challenges such as urban water access, sanitation coverage and irrigation efficiency.
Mbangula has also supported legislative initiatives intended to broaden the Institute’s research mandate and improve institutional sustainability, positioning KEWI as both a training hub and a policy thought leader in water resource management. Sector players say the reforms are timely as Kenya intensifies efforts toward universal water access and improved service delivery.
While his current portfolio is firmly rooted in national institutional leadership, Mbangula has also declared his intention to contest the Nairobi Governor seat in 2027. His gubernatorial ambition is framed around restoring service standards, enforcing fiscal accountability and stabilising executive leadership at City Hall.
A former Member of the Nairobi City County Assembly representing Hospital Ward in Mathare, Mbangula brings prior experience in devolved governance and legislative oversight. However, his present focus remains on steering KEWI through institutional reform while articulating a broader vision for Nairobi’s governance future.
As political momentum gradually builds toward 2027, Mbangula’s dual profile as a parastatal reformer and aspiring city chief positions him as a technocratic contender seeking to translate institutional discipline into urban transformation.
