Irungu Nyakera Profile: Educational Background, Career And Net Worth

Profile of Irungu Nyakera: Technocrat Aspiring to Become Next Nairobi Governor

WILSON IRUNGU NYAKERA

NAME	WILSON IRUNGU NYAKERA
GENDER	MALE
AGE	43 YEARS
OCCUPATION	POLITICIAN

Wilson Irungu Nyakera is a Kenyan technocrat, banker, and current Nairobi patron of the Democracy for Citizens (DCP) party, aspiring to be the next governor of Nairobi.

Early life and Education

Wilson Irungu Nyakera was born in Murang’a County in 1982 into a farming family and spent his early childhood in Central Kenya.

Raised by a single mother, Nancy Njoki Wairugu, in Eastleigh, Nairobi, he faced tragedy early when she passed away in 1991.

He was then left in the care of his grandparents and continued his schooling in the local primary schools in Muranga.

In 1996, he sat for the Kenya Certificate of Primary Education (KCPE) examinations and earned a place at Starehe Boys’ Centre.

The school, known for helping bright students from underprivileged families, appreciated Wilson’s brightness and promoted him to school leadership, making him the school captain.

His exceptional performance won him a scholarship through Starehe’s international network to attend Deerfield Academy in Massachusetts, United States.

In 2003, Nyakera was admitted to Stanford University in California, one of the world’s leading institutions.

At Sanford University, he pursued a Bachelor of Science degree in Management Science and Engineering, specialising in finance and decision engineering.

Nyakera actively participated in student leadership and Africa-focused initiatives, graduating in 2007.

Between 2023 and 2025, Nyakera returned to school and studied at the University of Oxford in the United Kingdom, completing a master’s-level programme focused on public policy and development economics.

Career

Professional Career

After graduating from Stanford University in 2007, Irungu Nyakera began his career in international finance at Citigroup Investment Bank in London.

He returned to Kenya in 2008 and joined NIC Capital, quickly rising through the ranks to become the Managing Director in 2010, when he was 28, making him one of the youngest executives in Kenya’s financial sector.

In 2012, Nyakera took on a continental role as Regional Director for Frontier Markets Fund Managers.

As Regional Director, he oversaw investment activities across 18 Sub-Saharan African countries, focusing on infrastructure and development finance.

Irungu Nyakera then joined Equity Group Holdings in 2014 as Managing Director of Equity Investment Bank.

His most appreciated effort for the group was when he spearheaded Equity Group’s strategic entry into Central Africa by overseeing the acquisition of Procredit Bank in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Public Service

In December 2015, at just 33 years old, he was appointed Principal Secretary (PS) in the State Department for Transport under the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure by President Uhuru Kenyatta.

His appointment was part of a generational shift in government, with Nyakera among the youngest Principal Secretaries ever to hold the position.

At the State Department for Transport, Nyakera was tasked with overseeing some of Kenya’s most ambitious infrastructure projects.

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His docket included the expansion of the national road network, modernization of commuter rail systems, and policy oversight of ports and airports.

Following the 2017 General Election, Nyakera transferred to the State Department for Planning and Statistics under the National Treasury and Ministry of Planning.

Nyakera served in this role until 2018, when he stepped down from government to return briefly to private-sector advisory work.

In May 2023, President William Ruto appointed Nyakera as Chairman of the Board of the Kenya Medical Supplies Authority (KEMSA), a troubled agency that has been marred by corruption scandals and mismanagement.

Nyakera was also appointed Chairman of the Board of the Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC) in June 2024.

However, due to political shifts in August 2024, his KEMSA position was revoked, with former Narok Governor Samuel Tunai named as his successor.

In April 2025, his KICC appointment was also revoked as part of a wider reshuffle affecting several state corporations.

Political career

Nyakera’s transition to active politics began after he left government in 2018 and became associated with the Farmers Party of Kenya, which later aligned with President Ruto’s Kenya Kwanza Alliance ahead of the 2022 General Election.

In late 2024, Nyakera announced his intention to run for Nairobi Governor in the 2027 General Election and became patron of the Democracy for Citizens Party (DCP).

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His campaign centers on improving service delivery, reforming city revenue systems, and upgrading infrastructure.