Mwangi wa Iria is the 1st and current Governor of Murang’a County in Kenya. He is also the current vice chairman of the Council of Governors of Kenya, having been elected in January 2019. He was elected on the 4 March 2013 and subsequently in August 2017 for his second term. His famous campaign slogan is “Hapa kazi tu” (translated from the native kikuyu language, no wira tu). He is the 1st black man to be a governor in Muranga county. He won the 2013 Kenyan gubernatorial elections under The National Alliance ticket.
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Mwangi wa Iria
 |
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|---|---|
| Governor of Murang’a County | |
| In office 4 March 2013 – August 2022 |
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| Deputy | James Kamau Maina |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Francis Maingi Mwangi
28 August 1964 |
| Nationality | Kenyan |
| Political party | Civic Renewal Party CRP |
| Spouse(s) | Jane Waigwe |
| Children | 3 |
| Alma mater | Moi University |
He is an alumnus of Moi University and Chartered Institute of Procurement & Supply in the UK. Iria has previously served as the Managing Director of New Kenya Cooperative Creameries (KCC), 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.
The governor is also the party leader for Civic Renewal Party (CRP). In January 2020, he announced his bid for the Presidency.
Iria became the first Governor in Kenya to embrace the Buy Kenya Build Kenya Initiative (BBI) in the procurement of locally ICU manufactured beds from a youth group in Kenya.
This came after President Uhuru Kenyatta directed Health CS Mutahi Kagwe to buy 500 beds from a local youth group with a view of supporting youth in Kenya to innovate and promote local enterprise. He is also a proponent of the Building Bridges Initiative (BBI).
Education
Wa Iria attended Kiboi primary School and later Weithaga Boys High School. He is also an alumnus of Moi University and received training from the Chartered Institute of Procurement & Supply in the United Kingdom.
Career
Before joining politics, Wa Iria was the Managing Director of New Kenya Cooperative Creameries (KCC). He has also served as National Sales manager of Kenya Breweries Ltd, Managing Director of Ngano Feeds Ltd, CEO of Freshco Seeds and as General Manager of the Commercial Division of Industrial Promotion Services that brings together more than 30 companies owned by the Aga Khan Development Network.
