CS Eric Mugaa: The 'village boy' navigating the murky waters of leadership

When President William Ruto read out the name of Kenya’s new Cabinet Secretary for Water, Sanitation and Irrigation in August 2024, there was a brief pause, one that Eng. Eric Mugaa remembers vividly.

“When my name was read, it wasn’t read very accurately. The President said Muuga, which in Meru means ‘greetings.’ Mine is Mugaa. That brought confusion for a while, so it took time for it to sink in,” Mugaa recalls.

“That day my phone rang until it switched off. I knew this was a huge opportunity to showcase the skills I’ve acquired over the years and to serve Kenyans diligently,” he says

Mugaa, an engineer by training, describes himself as “a simple village boy from a very humble background”. A story he says mirrors that of many Kenyans.

“It wasn’t an easy start in life but I believe efficiency pays in everything you’re tasked to do,’’ he said.

That belief was forged in the private sector, where speed and urgency are often paramount. Government, he quickly learned, moves differently.

“At first, I struggled, the urgency I was used to in the private sector does not apply in government because of checks and balances. But that is a good thing, it ensures everyone does the right thing,” Mugaa admits.

The adjustment required patience, especially in his first months in office. Still, he says the transition came with its own privileges.

“I had the opportunity to work with very seasoned professionals in government. That experience teaches you patience and perspective,’’ he notes.

At the ministry, Mugaa was confronted with a familiar but troubling reality, dozens of stalled and incomplete projects.

 “When I joined the ministry, I met many uncompleted projects small and medium-sized. I realized that apart from money, disagreements among stakeholders were a major factor holding them back,” he says.

For Mugaa, finishing what was started is not just an administrative goal, it’s a moral one.

Some of the infrastructure under his docket, he explains, is designed to serve Kenyans for decades.

“Some of these projects are meant to serve people for over 30 years. That’s why I value quality. In this ministry, quality is non-negotiable,” he said.

“One of my proudest moments was visiting a project in West Pokot and Baragoi,” he recalls.

“You interact with mwananchi who is simply asking for water to do small-scale farming. You commission a small project and immediately see the impact. That is why I am keen on completing these projects,” he adds.

As climate shocks intensify, Mugaa warns that Kenya cannot continue relying on short-term fixes.

“We cannot manage the floods-drought pendulum with small water pans. Those are meant to be immediate measures,” he said.

The long-term solution, he argues, lies in large-scale water harvesting infrastructure.

“We need big structures like dams. Currently, we have seven ongoing dams, including Mwache and Thwake, with Thwake now almost 94 percent complete,” he said

Traveling across the country, he has seen Kenya’s water inequality firsthand.

“You go to one area where water resources are abundant and people take it for granted. Then you go to another area where people would give everything just to have a quarter of that water. As a country, we must come up with innovative ways to survive,” he said.

That innovation, he adds, must also be matched by realism especially when it comes to cost.

“Kenyans need to be alive to the fact that water is not free. So much investment goes into ensuring water reaches homes. Kenyans should embrace paying water fees because a lot has gone into making access possible,” he said.