Murang’a Governor Irungu Kang'ata has announced that he suffered a heel tendon injury while attending an international meeting in Nairobi on Tuesday.
The injury happened after he tripped during an event organized by Nutrition International, a Canadian government-supported organization that works with different countries on nutrition and public health programs.
In a public statement, the governor explained that doctors have advised him to stay away from physically demanding activities for about one month.
Because of that, he will not attend in-person office duties or public events during this recovery period. Medical advice requires him to rest and limit movement so the tendon can heal properly and avoid further damage.
The county government of Murang'a County confirmed that although the governor will be away from physical engagements, government operations will continue without interruption. Key responsibilities have already been reassigned to ensure daily functions move forward normally.
During this period, Deputy Governor Stephen Munania will represent the governor at official events and functions that require physical presence.
That includes ceremonies, public meetings, and intergovernmental forums where the governor would normally appear in person. This is standard administrative practice when a county boss is temporarily unavailable.
In addition, the County Executive Committee Member for Finance, Prof. Kiari, will take up specific delegated duties where necessary. These include administrative approvals and coordination roles tied to ongoing county projects and financial matters.
Delegation ensures decisions do not stall simply because the governor is recovering.
Even though he will not be physically present in the office, Governor Kang’ata said he will continue working remotely. Starting next week, he plans to attend meetings virtually and keep track of county programs through online briefings and reports.
Remote participation has become common in government operations, so this shift is not expected to disrupt planning or oversight.
County officials also shared a message of reassurance to residents, saying service delivery will continue as scheduled. They emphasized that systems are already in place to handle temporary leadership gaps and that departments will keep running under existing management structures.
Residents and supporters have sent goodwill messages wishing the governor a quick recovery. Tendon injuries can take time to heal if not handled carefully, so limiting movement now is a practical decision rather than a symbolic one.
Bottom line: the injury is real, the absence is temporary, delegation is active, and county operations are structured to continue without drama. Governance doesn’t stop because one official is on medical rest — that’s exactly why deputy roles and executive committees exist.
