Paul Waiganjo Resigns as President’s Development Advisor, Citing Structural Constraints and National Concerns

Story by Violet Kerubo

Paul Waiganjo, who has been serving as an Advisor to the President on Development Matters, has announced his resignation from the position, citing what he described as structural limitations that prevented him from delivering on his mandate.
Speaking on Friday, September 25, 2026, Waiganjo said he had formally tendered his resignation at 3 p.m., marking what he described as a major turning point in his public-service journey.
Waiganjo said he accepted the appointment on May 28, 2026, with the intention of contributing to development programmes focusing on infrastructure, healthcare, water access, street lighting, job creation and youth empowerment.
He said he had particularly hoped to use the position to contribute to the development of Nyandarua County, which he described as an important agricultural and economic centre.
According to Waiganjo, agriculture remains central to Nyandarua’s economy, with farmers producing potatoes, milk and other agricultural products for markets including Nairobi.
He, however, raised concerns over inadequate infrastructure, poor road networks, unreliable electricity, limited value addition and challenges facing farmers.
Waiganjo argued that these challenges contribute to post-harvest losses and limit the ability of local farmers and businesses to benefit fully from their production.
He also expressed concern over unemployment among young people and what he described as the pressure of taxation and rising costs on businesses and households.
The former presidential advisor said his experiences in office eventually led him to question whether he could effectively implement the responsibilities he had been given.
“The inherent structural redundancies of this office have left me severely handicapped in actualizing its core mandate,” Mwiganjo said.
He added that remaining in an office where he believed he could not fulfil his promises would conflict with his principles and sense of public duty.
Waiganjo also framed his resignation around what he described as the broader need for accountability, public participation and respect for constitutional sovereignty.
He cited Kenya’s constitutional principle that sovereign power belongs to the people, arguing that government must maintain genuine dialogue with citizens.
In announcing his next political direction, waiganjo said he intends to leave government and align himself with what he described as a growing national socio-economic awakening among Kenyans.
He referred to the movement as “One Kenya”, describing it as a call for equity, social justice, integrity and accountability.
Waiganjo also invoked historical and philosophical references, including Aristotle, Thomas Aquinas, Abraham Lincoln, Theodore Roosevelt, Thomas Hobbes and John Locke, to explain his understanding of public leadership and the relationship between government and citizens.
He quoted the biblical account of Nehemiah rebuilding Jerusalem’s walls, saying Kenya similarly requires collective effort to address what he described as broken systems and economic challenges.
Waiganjo concluded by expressing gratitude to the people of Nyandarua and other Kenyans who, according to him, supported him during his time in public service.
He pledged to continue working toward what he described as a future founded on integrity, justice, economic opportunity and shared prosperity.
He ended his address by invoking the national anthem and calling for unity, peace, freedom and prosperity.
Waiganjo’s resignation now marks his departure from the government advisory position he assumed in May 2026, while his announcement signals his intention to remain active in Kenya’s public and political affairs.