Nyeri Governor Mutahi Kahiga will lead EACLGA for the 2026–2028 term.
The Nyeri governor succeeds Uganda’s Wilson Sanya as Kenya takes over leadership of the regional local governments platform.
Nyeri Governor Mutahi Kahiga has won election as EACLGA chairperson for the 2026–2028 term. He will lead the East African County and Local Governments Association, succeeding Uganda’s Wilson Sanya.
The announcement came during the ninth East Africa Local Governments Forum Ministerial Meeting in Nairobi. At the meeting, Kenya formally took over the chairship from Uganda. The Nyeri County Government also congratulated Kahiga in a statement celebrating his election.
EACLGA chairperson takes over from Uganda
Sanya previously served as mayor of Koboko Municipality in Uganda and president of the Urban Authorities Association of Uganda. Uganda had held the forum’s chairship since the 2024 Kampala Summit before handing leadership to Kenya.
The transition puts Kenya at the head of a platform connecting county and local government representatives across East Africa. Its membership draws from East African Community states, including Tanzania, Rwanda and Burundi.
Meanwhile, Trans Nzoia Deputy Governor Philomena Bineah represented Kahiga at the Nairobi proceedings. She discussed strengthening devolution through cooperation, shared leadership and regional partnerships. These discussions accompanied the leadership handover between the two countries.
Kenya sets five priorities for regional leadership
Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi officially opened the forum and outlined five priorities for Kenya’s leadership. These include closer ties between local governments and the East African Community, greater decentralisation and stronger financial independence.
Kenya also seeks to expand public participation, particularly among women and young people. Another priority focuses on improving institutional capacity through training and knowledge exchange.
Alongside those priorities, the forum expects to produce the Nairobi 2026 Declaration and an EACLGA corporate strategy for 2026–2031. A framework for developing local government leaders’ capacity is another expected outcome.
Kahiga’s election follows his October 2025 resignation as vice-chairperson of Kenya’s Council of Governors. He stepped down after public backlash over his remarks about Raila Odinga’s death. The council represents Kenya in EACLGA.
