Tindi Mwale: I will deliver as head of crucial House watchdog committee

Butere Member of Parliament (MP) Tindi Mwale’s rise to the more powerful seat in Parliament did not come in his own making.

FKF rift deepens as Hussein alleges “coup plot” amid Mariga fallout Football

KCB to dare Tusker in FKF Cup semi-final blockbuster Football

The newly crowned Public Accounts Committee (PAC) chairman in Parliament embarked on the journey in 2015 moments after a team of opinion leaders and elders approached him and demanded that he must take a stab at the seat in the 2017 elections.

Mwale, 38, a political greenhorn then, had a rather tricky but smooth ride to Parliament after flooring incumbent Andrew Toboso (ODM) to become the youngest MP ever in Kakamega County.

“It was a blistering battle, but we emerged victorious despite a myriad of challenges,” said Mwale, who vied on the defunct Amani National Congress (ANC) and garnered 18,235 votes against Toboso’s 11,684.

His story is that of resilience, determination, sacrifice, focus, trust, and political loyalty. Mwale’s political star has continued to shine even brighter.

In the 2022 elections, the lawmaker became the first ever politician to clinch a direct ODM nomination ticket in the Western region after ditching ANC at the eleventh hour.

Several other Amani legislators would follow suit. They are Bishop Titus Khamala (Lurambi), Christopher Aseka (Khwisero), Peter Nabulindo (Matungu), Bernard Shinali (Ikolomani), Emmanuel Wangwe (Navakholo), and Teso North MP Oku Kaunya.

A shrewd politician, perhaps Mwale, could be having fun navigating the slippery political terrain in the country. His calculated political steps portray him as an adept learner.

The political realignments that led to a deal between opposition chief Raila Odinga and President William Ruto could have come as a blessing in disguise for Mwale.

Barely two years ago, Mwale was the right-hand man of former ANC party boss Musalia Mudavadi—but today, he is a self-proclaimed ‘ Captain of Jeshi la Baba (a political grouping within the ODM party championing Raila Odinga’s political ideologies).

Raila was among the first people to congratulate the MP when he was elected the powerful PAC chairman about two weeks ago following intense jostling for the position.

Mwale garnered nine votes against Rarieda MP Otiende Omollo’s six votes to clinch the coveted seat.

Immediately after securing the seat, Mwale thanked Raila. “Asante sana Baba, for the warm welcome. I shall always be loyal and learn from your leadership and wisdom as I embark on my new assignment as the National Assembly Public Accounts Committee Chairman,” he said during a meeting with the former Premier at the latter’s Capitol Hill offices.

The lawmaker was warmly received at the Kenya Methodist University (KeMU) where he is an alumnus of BBA (Enterprenuarship and Investments) and is currently pursuing a postgraduate degree in MBA (Finance and Financial Management Services), a course that augers well with his current position.

Prior to joining KeMU, Mwale studied a national diploma in Aeronautical Engineering from Nairobi Technical Training Institute

Prof John Kobia Ataya, KeMU Vice Chancellor, who was at hand to receive the MP at the university’s Nairobi campus, described Mwale as a good student and an outstanding leader.

“We are happy to be associated with Tindi Mwale because he is a disciplined learner and an exemplary leader,” said Prof Ataya.

When he finished college in mid-2009, Mwale was absorbed as an Aeronautical Engineer at Mission Aviation Fellowship (MAF), an aircraft maintainance and leasing company stationed at Wilson Airport, Nairobi.

After two years in the aviation industry, Mwale went further to pursue a Bachelors degree in business administration (Enterprenuership and Investments) at KeMU.

He also holds professional certifications in Audit, Risk, and Governance from MISTI training institute based in London. The father of four was born on November 4, 1986, in Mumare village, Lunza sub-location, Butere, Kakamega County.

According to Mwale, his parents, retired Major Abel Mwale (deceased) and Mama Decima Mwale (deceased), were strict but caring. "I was the last born, but they demanded the best from me in whatever I was doing, be it in school or at home," he recalled.

Mwale would later work as a business development associate and financial consultant at Zakhem International Construction Company, a multinational engineering and construction conglomerate overseeing construction of onshore pipelines, gathering and pumping stations, refineries, and industrial plants in 2012.

But who is Tindi Mwale? He describes himself as a trained business development strategist/ administrator, financial and investments expert, philanthropist, political leader, and trained aeronautics engineer.

He also founded the Tindi Mwale Foundation, a non-profit making organisation targeting community development and empowerment for sustainable socio-economic growth of the society.

A section of his supporters describe him as a development-conscious leader who has prioritised community projects such as expanding infrastructure in schools, building police stations, giving training instituions a facelift, and purchasing buses for schools within Butere, among many other programmes.

Alice Weringa, a resident, said Mwale is a down-to-earth leader who listens to all and sundry. "I think he is able to achieve a lot because he listens and speaks with people. He is so close to his electorate, and we believe that his new position as the new PAC chair will benefit all Kenyans,” said Weringa.

Mwale served as a member of the Public Investment Committee, Energy, Delegated Legislation, and Committee on Selection as a first MP between 2017 and 2022.

“I have remained firm and consistent, which is a key attribute in leadership,” said the second-term MP, who also served as PAC vice chairman and acted for six months as the committee’s chairman after his predecessor John Mbadi was appointed Treasury Cabinet Secretary. Mwale would later be elevated to the committee’s helm.

The new PAC boss is reluctant to be drawn into party politics, arguing that what matters now is that Raila and President Ruto have agreed to work together under the broad-based government arrangement.

Mwale has vowed to ensure prudent use and management of public resources as the new PAC chief.

"I am committed to running a good and effective system to ensure prudent use of all resources where Kenyans will get value for their money,” the lawmaker told The Daily Nation in an exclusive interview.

He has assured of accurate management and control of public resources in a way that is lawful, transparent, economical, and authorised.

According to Mwale, government officials ought to make proper use of all resources at their disposal, warning that anyone found to have breached prudent use of such resources will be personally held accountable.

“My resolve is to offer robust scrutiny in the expenditure and use of public resources and auditing the revenue and expenditure of the National Government with the intention to reduce wastage and unnecessary use of public resources by introducing various stringent measures,” he said.

He demanded macro-economic fiscal policy discipline and governance, accountability and transparency in managing public finances, reminding the national assembly committees to regularly monitor disbursements and spending by government agencies to enhance sensible use of public resources and ensure there is value for money.

The PAC boss says regular reports from line ministries and government agencies on how they are spending monies disbursed to them would help avert corruption and ensure judicious use of public resources.

“Committees fail because they don’t monitor disbursements. Once money is approved to ministries, there has been no monitoring of the disbursements. Waiting for audits sometimes comes too late, and this could lead to misappropriation of money," he said