16/08/2025
𝐍𝐚𝐢𝐫𝐨𝐛𝐢 𝐆𝐮𝐛𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐑𝐚𝐜𝐞 ~ 𝐀𝐧 𝐀𝐧𝐚𝐥𝐲𝐬𝐢𝐬
𝐏𝐀𝐑𝐓 𝐓𝐇𝐑𝐄𝐄: 𝑫𝒆𝒏𝒏𝒊𝒔 𝑾𝒂𝒘𝒆𝒓𝒖
An accomplished investment banker, Dennis Waweru has also declared interest in the city's top job; the 2nd time he is doing so after his 2022 bid that he abandoned midway. Before his political career took a nosedive, he had served as the MP for Dagoretti South.
Waweru boasts of a rich profile in the banking industry having been in the field for over two decades. He has been instrumental in the various industry developments and at some point served as the Vice Chairman of the Kenya Association of Investment Banks and Stock Brokers (KASIB). In addition, he has played an important role in ensuring the implementation of various Exchange initiatives that have sustainably grown the Stock Market. Waweru is a Partner and Director of Faida Investment Bank. He holds an MBA in Strategic Management from Moi University and a Bachelor of Commerce Degree.
His proponents argue that Nairobi needs a manager not a politician and Waweru is the right man for that job. Seen a largely sober and composed, Waweru has propped himself as the sensible brain that will restore sanity in a city dominated by chaos in every corner. However, whereas Waweru's posture may appeal to middle and upper class Nairobians, it makes little sense to residents of the lower end, who are the majority, who care less about such optics and are more concerned about where the next meal will come from. Waweru's soft stature also makes his candidature feel lukewarm and colourless in a county where bravado and braggadocio carry the day.
Secondly, Waweru opines that the problems of Nairobi can only be solved by a person who was born and brought up there and he prides himself as a pure Nairobian. However, whereas this might be true, I highly doubt it will be a determining factor in the race to unseat incumbent Johnson Sakaja.
Thirdly, Waweru belongs to Jubilee Party and consequently, the larger umbrella of the opposition where there are several other candidates seeking the same job. Will it be easy for him to convince the other aspirants to drop their bids and support him? Only time will tell.
Yote tisa, Dennis Waweru's bid for Nairobi governorship is akin to that average, largely silent and barely visible company employee who seeks to fill a manager's position that has fallen vacant. He will need to work really hard to convince the appointing authority that he is better fit for the job than his more visible and outgoing colleagues. Otherwise, if he is not careful, Dennis Waweru might join the long list of career aspirants who only threaten to contest but never really put up serious bids.
© 𝗠𝗿 𝗖𝗵𝗿𝗼𝗻𝗶𝗰𝗹𝗲𝘀 𝗔𝗹𝘃𝗮𝗻 𝗞𝗶𝗻𝘆𝘂𝗮, 𝗖.𝗚.𝗣. 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟱
