PROFILE: Who is Kiambu Governor hopeful Mwende Gatabaki?

She has recently gained support for her candidacy by making tough remarks that have impressed the public. This further demonstrates her exceptional 20 years of experience as a sociopreneur while working with organizations in the public, private, and government sectors.

Most people are familiar with her as the spouse of David Ndii, a former NASA economist and strategist. But who is Gatabaki in actuality?

Gatabaki is the daughter of Senior Chief Peter Gatabaki of Thakwa who is also the former Githunguri MP.

She was born and raised in Githunguri, Kiambu county.

Before pursuing a bachelor's degree in mathematics and computer science from Kenyatta University in 1990, she attended Githunguri Primary School and Limuru Girls High School.

Following completion of a postgraduate diploma in computer science at Salford University, she went on to earn a master's degree in management and organizational development in 1996 from United States International University (USIU).

She immediately secured a network administrator role at USAID for four years then later moved to KWS where she was an IT manager. 

She began working for the Kenya Tea Development Agency (KTDA) in 2004 and held the position of ICT Group General Manager until 2010.

Gatabaki received a significant break in her career when President Uhuru Kenyatta hired her in 2014 to be Director General at the Kenya Citizens and Foreign Nationals Management Service (KCFNMS) and Chair the Presidential Digital Transformations of Government.

Later, she oversaw strategy development while working for consulting firm McKinsey & Company as the Senior Public Sector Advisor for East Africa.

She was promoted to Practice Leader at Lattice Consulting Limited in 2018.

She currently serves as the company's founder and managing director. Africa Aquaculture Development Company Ltd. [AADeC] is a trailblazing agricultural enterprise that aims to expand and market Africa's value chain for smallholder fish farming.

Gatabaki will be running against other well-known leaders for the top position in Kiambu, including Senator Kimani Wamatangi, William Kabogo, and current incumbent James Nyoro.

If elected governor, Gatabaki says she will focus on the three pillar agenda, which includes empowering young people economically, expanding smallholder agriculture, and reducing climate change.