Former President Uhuru Kenyatta’s aide has announced that he will resign from his role as Managing Director for Africa at the Tony Blair Institute for Global Change as he prepares to return to elective politics.
Nzioka Waita has been serving as the Managing Director for Africa at the Tony Blair Institute for Global Change.
In his statement on July 27, Nzioka said he will leave the international development organization at the end of September 2026, marking a transition from a decade-long career in corporate leadership to a fresh political contest in Kenya.
“After a week spent accompanying our Executive Chairman, Rt.Hon Sir Tony Blair, on an intensive program of regional visits comprising 5 countries in 4 days, reconnecting with our country teams and engaging with Heads of State in Mozambique, Malawi, Rwanda, Ethiopia and Kenya now seems the right time to announce that I will be resigning from my role as Managing Director for Africa Tony Blair Institute for Global Change at the end of September 2026,”the statement read.
The former State House Chief of Staff confirmed that he will seek the Machakos County gubernatorial seat in the 2027 General Election, after his unsuccessful bid in 2022.
From State House Leadership to International Development Work
During the administration of former President Uhuru Kenyatta, Nzioka served in senior government positions, including as Head of the Presidential Delivery Unit before becoming State House Chief of Staff.
In those roles, Waita was involved in coordinating government programmes, monitoring implementation of presidential priorities and supporting delivery of major development projects.
After leaving government, Waita shifted his focus to elective politics and contested the Machakos Governor seat in the 2022 General Election. He ran on the Chama Cha Uzalendo (CCU) ticket but lost to Wiper Party candidate Wavinya Ndeti.
Following the election, Waita moved into international development leadership, joining the Tony Blair Institute for Global Change, where he became Managing Director for Africa.
Waita Announces Exit from Tony Blair Institute
In his announcement, Waita said his decision to leave the organisation was influenced by his desire to return to public service through elective leadership.
He noted that his relationship with the institute had developed through different stages, including working with it as a government client, as a consultant supporting government reforms, and later as a staff member leading its Africa portfolio.
“The reason for my transition is equally personal and deeply rooted in my long-standing commitment to public service. I intend to seek elective office in Kenya and will be pursuing a bid to become Governor of Machakos County in the 2027 General Election. I believe that leadership is ultimately about service, whether in government, private sector or institutions like TBI. The values that have guided my work throughout my career remain unchanged, and I am excited to apply the lessons learned over many years of high performing corporate sector assignments , public sector governance, and development planning and delivery to this next chapter,” Waita added.
He added that his experience in corporate assignments, public sector governance and development planning would shape his approach as he seeks elective office.
Although he will leave his full-time role, Waita said he will maintain links with the institute by serving as a part-time Strategic Advisor for Africa.
In that capacity, he will support his successor Antoine Huss and continue engaging with partners and funders.
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