Alfred Mutua
Dr Alfred N. Mutua | |
---|---|
1st Governor of Machakos County | |
Assumed office 27 March 2013 | |
Majority | 173,213 (71%) |
1st Official Government Spokesperson and Public Communications Secretary of Kenya | |
In office 2004 – 3 September 2012 | |
President | Mwai Kibaki |
Succeeded by | Muthui Kariuki |
Personal details | |
Born |
Machakos, Kenya | 22 August 1970
Nationality | Kenyan |
Political party | Maendeleo Chap Chap |
Spouse(s) | Lilian Nganga |
Alma mater |
Whitworth College (BA) EWU (MSc) UWS (PhD) |
Website | n/a |
Dr Alfred Nganga Mutua (born 22 August 1970) was the 1st Official Kenyan Government Spokesperson and Public Communications Secretary.[1] He resigned in September 2012 to vie for the position of Governor for Machakos. He went on to win the election with 71% of the vote.
He was born in Masii, Machakos County and is married with several children. He has lived, studied and worked in Kenya, USA, Australia and the United Arab Emirates and has been a business man, lecturer, civil servant and politician.
Education
He was educated at Dagoretti High School (O level) and at Jamhuri High School (A level). He obtained his BA in Journalism from Whitworth College in the United States and his MSc in Communication from Eastern Washington University. He received his doctorate in communication and media from the University of Western Sydney in Australia.
Professional career
- Author
Dr. Mutua is the author of a self-help book, How To Be Rich in Africa & other secrets of survival. Published in 2010, the book gives insight into various ways of being a successful investor in Africa.
He is also the owner of a lifestyle magazine titled “Passion Magazine” which covers various topical issues including food, fashion spread, beauty, health & finance.
- Lecturer
Having sharpened his teeth through teaching Sunday school at his local church when he was a young man, Dr. Mutua went on to become a lecturer and assistant professor in his illustrious career. He was a lecturer at Daystar University in Kenya, and also an Assistant Professor at Zayed University in Dubai.
- Journalist
In a career spanning 15 years Dr. Mutua was a foreign correspondent and a local journalist in Kenya's media industry. He is world-renowned for his popular travel articles under the title of Msafiri. These articles ran in several newspapers and magazines.
In an exclusive and record making interview, Dr. Mutua was the first journalist to interview the new president of Zaire/Congo in the 90s Mr. Joseph Kabila soon after he took over the country following his father's assassination (while working for SBS Television of Australia).
Among the media houses that have published his articles are Kenya Airways inflight magazine – Msafiri, The Daily Nation, East African Standard, The Sydney Morning Herald, The Billings Gazette, Spokesman Review, The Spokane African-American Voice (where he served as the founding Editor), Valley News-Herald and The East African.
- Movie director and producer
During his illustrious career, Dr. Mutua has even been involved in movie making, writing and producing various productions. One of his notable films was his movie, "And the Desert Smiled" (2004), which was launched by U.A.E's H.E. Sheikh Nahavan. He also produced a documentary titled “An African in America” (1997) and an award winning documentary for UNIV titled “Housing As A Human Right Issue” (1998).
Dr. Mutua also runs a production company Golden Dreams Company Ltd (GDC), which he set up at the age of 21. GDC produced Kenya's first action TV series, the Cobra Squad as well as the family show, Beba Beba. Cobra Squad was aired not only in Kenya.
Through GDC, Dr. Mutua also launched the East Africa Music Awards (EAMAs) in 2011.
Civil servant
Government spokesman and public communications secretary
Dr. Mutua was appointed the first official government spokesperson of Kenya on June 2004. He served in that capacity until 3 September 2012.
He was also the public communications secretary and head of the Office of Public Communications in the Office of the President.
Under his stewardship in this office, Dr. Mutua is credited with establishing a public campaign to promote patriotism, Najivunia Kuwa Mkenya.
Dr. Mutua was also mandated with a couple of presidential tasks, among the notable ones was to chair a task force that was charged with ensuring that Mombasa was ready for the 2007 IAAF athletics championships held in Mombasa.
Political career
Dr. Mutua became the first governor of Machakos County, which is one of the counties established under the Constitution of Kenya, 2010 and was sworn in on 27 March 2013.
He was elected on a Wiper Democratic Party ticket with 71% of the total vote.
References
- ↑ "Government of Machakos". 26 February 2014. Retrieved 26 February 2014.