David Murathe Profile: Educational Background, Career, Family and Net Worth

 David Murathe Biography

DAVID WAKAIRU MURATHE 

David Wakairu Murathe is a prominent Kenyan politician, businessman, and influential figure in the country’s ruling elite.

He is a close confidant and advisor to former President Uhuru Kenyatta and is often described as a “straight shooter” and behind-the-scenes strategist.

Murathe has played a key role in Kenyan politics, serving as a dependable pillar, particularly in the Jubilee Party, where he held the position of vice chairman until early 2019.

During his leadership in the Jubilee Party, Murathe played his roles perfectly by practically being loud in opposing the then Deputy President William Ruto’s presidential ambitions as the election year 2022 drew by, accusing him of driving a wedge between the regime and its supporters through deception and fueling tensions within the coalition, as well as calling for the regime to be allowed enough time to implement its manifesto and promises uninterruptedly to Kenyans.

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Early Life and Education

Murathe was born in 1958. He is the son of the late William Murathe Gatuhi, a wealthy Thika and Nairobi entrepreneur who owned a popular business stream, Murathe Wines & Spirits.

He attended Kahuhia Primary School, a local public school in the Gatanga area of Murang’a County, for his primary education. This laid his education foundation, proving to be a real scholar and later joining a national school, The Nairobi School, for secondary school level education, performing superbly well and becoming part of the prestigious school’s alumni that includes other prominent Kenyans, something that saw him join the famous University of Nairobi to pursue a degree in Political Science.

Here, he unleashed his political ambitions by becoming a student leader, where, during the attempted coup against President Moi in 1982, he, together with other students, were implicated in the underground Mwakenya Movement, which was an anti-Moi group and were detained without trial and after his release, he completed his degree and kept a low profile before indulging to formal politics.

Murathe’s Family

Murathe got married to Faith Murathe and is blessed with three children: June Tuto, a fashion designer studying in Spain, Waturi Murathe, a research analyst who married Ernest Wakhusama in 2009, and   Davidson Wakairu Murathe, also known as DWS, who is a budding politician, businessman and runs an NGO called ‘Vijana Amkeni’, earning him the title of an environmental activist.  

The family maintains a low public profile, with the daughters pursuing education and careers abroad. Murathe is known for his combative style and lavish lifestyle, often hosting high-profile events at his home.

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Murathe’s Political Career

Murathe is a seasoned politician who has been involved in various capacities, the first electoral debut coming in the 1997 general elections, when he won the Gatanga parliamentary seat in Murang’a County under the Democratic Party (DP) coalition where he served for one term but lost re-election in 2002 to economist Peter Kenneth after which he largely stayed out of the public eye until  2007 when he resurfaced during Uhuru Kenyatta’s tenure as Finance Minister, creating a close alliance that positioned him as a key insider in Kenyatta’s cabinet.

During the Jubilee Party era, formed for the 2013 elections, he rose to the vice chairmanship, overseeing party affairs and providing backroom advice on political strategy.

After 2022, and with Kenyatta out of office, Murathe has maintained his influence in Central Kenya politics, particularly among the Kikuyu communities, and has been linked to efforts to counter Ruto’s administration, which has kept him known for his straightforward approach and made him a key figure in Kenyan politics.

Business Ventures and Controversies

Apart from politics,  David Murathe inherited and expanded his family’s wine and spirits empire, establishing himself as an astute businessman, and lives in Nairobi’s Garden Estate.

Controversially, Murathe has been accused by critics of benefiting from deals with Chinese investors, something he denies.

In 2020, he was implicated in the Kenya Medical Supplies Authority (KEMSA) COVID-19 procurement scandal, where a company he allegedly lent money to secured a tender. However, he again denied direct involvement, claiming to have severed ties before the deal. He also faced personal financial woes in 2005, owing over KSh. 50 million in debt.

David Murathe’s Net Worth

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