MWANGI WA IRIA
| YEAR OF BIRTH | August 1964 |
| GENDER | Male |
| OCCUPATION | Politician, Former Murang’a County Govenor |
President William Ruto appointed former Murang’a Governor Francis Mwangi wa Iria as the Chairperson of the Public Procurement Regulatory Board on December 20, 2024.
Mwangi wa Iria served as the first governor of Murang’a County for two terms after his election in the 2013 and 2017 general elections.
He was first elected on a The National Alliance (TNA) Party ticket for his first term and on a Jubilee Party ticket for his second.
Early life and Education
Born in 1964, Wa Iria, known for his grip on Murang’a county politics since 2013 when he took office, attended Kiboi Primary School in Murang’a for his primary school education, before joining Weithaga Boys’ High School in Kiharu, still in the county.
His educational journey would later see him join Moi University before he travelled to the United Kingdom for further studies at the Chartered Institute of Procurement & Supply.
Mwangi wa Iria Career
Wa Iria previously held the role of the Managing Director at the New Kenya Cooperative Creameries (KCC).
Prior to his tenure at the helm of KCC, Mwangi also served as a National Sales Manager of Kenya Breweries Ltd, Managing Director of Ngano Feeds Ltd, CEO of Freshco Seeds and General Manager of the Commercial Division of Industrial Promotion Services that brings together more than 30 companies owned by the Aga Khan Development Network.
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He joined politics and successfully vied for the Murang’a County gubernatorial race in the 2013 general election and defended his seat in 2017.
During his second tenure as a county boss, he served as the Vice chairperson of the Council of Governors (CoG) having been elected in 2019.
Three years after he clinched his second term as the Murang’a county boss, wa Iria set his sights on the country’s presidency and declared his interest to run in the 2022 general election.
Wa Iria named Alfayo Onyambu who hails from Kisii County as his running mate.
He announced that he would be the presidential flag bearer of his Usawa Kwa Wote Party, which he heads.
However, he was disqualified from vying for the position by the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) after he allegedly failed to garner enough signatures.
Family
The former governor is married to Jane Waigwe, and they have three children.
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