Zachariah Kìnùthia (born 10 July 1988), known as Zack Kìnùthia,[1] served as the Chief Administrative Secretary[2] of the Kenyan Ministry of Sports, Culture, and Heritage from January 2020 until his resignation in February 2022.[3][4] He previously served as chairman of the Student's Organization of Nairobi University (SONU).
Zack Kìnùthia | |
|---|---|
| Born | 10 July 1988 |
| Education | University of Nairobi |
| Occupation | Former Chief Administrative Secretary |
| Title | Hon. |
| Children | 2 |
Early life and education
editZack Kìnùthia was born to Lucy Mugure[5] in Marumī village, Kigumo Ward, Murang'a County in Gatitu Constituency. He is a member of the Kikuyu tribe, a Bantu ethnic group.[1] He attended Kigumo Primary School in his home county and later attended Gaichanjiru High School in Murang'a County.[6]
In 2010, he enrolled at the University of Nairobi to pursue a bachelor's degree in economics and political science.[7] While at the University of Nairobi, he became involved in student politics and was elected chairman of the Students' Organization of Nairobi University (SONU).[8] He also served as a leader in the Christian Union. As of 2023, Kìnùthia is pursuing a law degree.[9]
Career
editAt the University of Nairobi, Kìnùthia served as the elected chairman of the student organization from 2013 to 2014.[10] He was also a member of the Christian Union and held a leadership role in 2013.[11]
In 2013, Kìnùthia joined the presidential campaign team of candidate Uhuru Kenyatta. He later participated in the formation of the Jubilee Party and President Uhuru's re-election youth campaign.[12]
In 2014, after graduating from the University of Nairobi with his bachelor's degree, Kìnùthia worked as a research assistant at a community project focused on the fight against HIV/AIDS in Kenya, an initiative of the University of Nairobi known as Central Kenya Response – Integration, Strengthening and Sustainability plus Project (CRISSP).[13]
Kìnùthia was appointed as the Chief Administrative Secretary (CAS) for Education on 15 January 2020, by President Uhuru Kenyatta, alongside Mumina Bonaya. Kìnùthia was the first person appointed to this specific position under President Kenyatta and the second person overall to hold it after Prof. Collete A. Suda, Ph.D. He was the youngest person serving in that position at the time of his appointment.[14] Kìnùthia stated that he had no prior knowledge of his appointment and first heard of it when President Uhuru announced it on the radio.[15] He was sworn in on 17 January 2020, at the State House in the presence of Education Cabinet Secretary Prof. George Magoha.[16] He reportedly cut his hair short before being sworn in.[14]
Kìnùthia was later transferred to the Ministry of Sports, Culture, and Heritage.[17] In February 2022, he resigned from the CAS position in the Ministry of Sports, Culture, and Heritage to contest the Kigumo parliamentary seat under the Party of National Unity.[3][4] He lost the election to Joseph Munyoro of UDA, receiving 10,543 votes to Munyoro's 27,213 votes.[18]
References
edit- 1 2 Mbataru, Samuel (14 January 2020). "The Rise and Rise of Zack Kinuthia". Kenyans.co.ke. Retrieved 29 December 2020.
- ↑ "Chief Administrative Secretaries". www.education.go.ke. Archived from the original on 15 January 2021. Retrieved 29 December 2020.
- 1 2 "Sports CAS Kinuthia, Kachapin resign". Nation. 9 February 2022. Retrieved 24 November 2022.
- 1 2 "Sports Chief Administrative Secretaries resign to venture into politics | MozzartSportKe". www.mozzartsport.co.ke. Retrieved 24 November 2022.[dead link]
- ↑ Mbataru, Samuel (15 January 2020). "Zack Kinuthia's Mother Reveals Son's Troubled Past After Uhuru Appointment". Kenyans.co.ke. Retrieved 29 December 2020.
- ↑ "Safari ya Zack Kinuthia kielimu hadi kuwa Waziri Msaidizi wa Elimu". Taifa Leo (in Swahili). 25 June 2020. Retrieved 3 June 2025.
Mama Lucy Mugure kutoka kijiji cha Gatitu... alisoma shule ya msingi Kigumo na Gaichanjiru High School.
- ↑ "Meet Nadia and Zach: Kenya's youngest CASs". Citizentv.co.ke. 15 January 2020. Retrieved 29 December 2020.
- ↑ Hub, Africa News. "INTERVIEW: Zack Kinuthia; Chairman SONU on understanding the student mentality". www.africanewshub.com. Retrieved 29 December 2020.[permanent dead link]
- ↑ "Hon. Zack Kinuthia | Global Peace Foundation". www.globalpeace.org. Retrieved 29 December 2020.
- ↑ "Mr. Zack Kinuthia, Chairman, SONU for the year 2013/2014 addresses first-year students". University of Nairobi.[permanent dead link]
- ↑ "'Born-again' SONU chairman vows to clean up UoN's image - The Sauce". www.capitalfm.co.ke. Retrieved 29 December 2020.
- ↑ "Zack Kinuthia speaks on behalf of the Youth at the BBI rally in Meru". Nation. 5 July 2020. Retrieved 29 December 2020.
- ↑ "UoN CRISS+ Project supporting fight against HIV | COLLEGE OF HEALTH SCIENCES". chs.uonbi.ac.ke. Retrieved 29 December 2020.[permanent dead link]
- 1 2 David (19 January 2020). "Uhuru Appointee Rushes to Cut Hair After Securing Govt Job". Kenya Gist. Archived from the original on 29 November 2020. Retrieved 29 December 2020.
- ↑ Mwangi, Denis (7 October 2020). "I Learnt of My CAS Appointment on Radio - Zack Kinuthia Recalls [VIDEO]". Kenyans.co.ke. Retrieved 29 December 2020.
- ↑ "Zach Kinuthia, Nadia Abdallah, Peter Odoyo among 10 new CASs sworn in". Citizentv.co.ke. 17 January 2020. Retrieved 29 December 2020.
- ↑ Okoth, Brian (17 February 2021). "PS Belio Kipsang, CAS Zack Kinuthia among those moved in reshuffle as David Osiany makes entry: full list".
- ↑ Waithera, Alice. "I'll bridge rich-poor gap — Kigumo MP-elect". The Star. Retrieved 18 January 2023.