President William Ruto has appointed former Meru Governor Kiraitu Murungi as the Non-Executive Chairperson of the Board of Directors of the Competition Authority of Kenya for a three-year term.

The appointment was made through Gazette Notice No. 9603 dated June 26, 2026. It takes immediate effect and revokes the appointment of Charles W. Mahinda, who previously served as board chairperson.

The gazette notice states:

“In exercise of the powers conferred by section 10 (1) (a) of the Competition Act, as read together with section 51 (1) of the Interpretation and General Provisions Act, I, William Samoei Ruto, President of the Republic of Kenya and Commander-in-Chief of the Defence Forces, appoint Kiraitu Murungi to be the Non-Executive Chairperson of the Board of Directors of the Competition Authority, for a period of three years, with effect from the 26th June, 2026.”

The Competition Authority of Kenya (CAK) regulates competition in the country’s economy. The authority investigates anti-competitive practices, protects consumers from unfair business conduct, reviews mergers and acquisitions, and works to prevent abuse of market dominance.

As board chairperson, Murungi will provide policy direction and strategic oversight at the regulator.

Murungi’s comeback

Murungi returns to national public service after years in county leadership and Parliament. He served as Meru Governor between 2017 and 2022, represented South Imenti as MP for many years, and later became Meru Senator.

During former President Mwai Kibaki’s administration, Murungi served as Minister for Justice and Constitutional Affairs before later moving to the Energy ministry.

The lawyer, Harvard Law School graduate and longtime politician recently stepped back from elective politics but has remained active in public affairs and development discussions in Meru County.

Murungi has also been one of the strongest supporters of the proposed Meru airstrip project. He previously linked the need for the facility to emergency medical access after surviving a serious illness.

“There was a time I was seriously sick and had to be rushed to Nairobi by ambulance. I almost lost my life. Meru urgently needs an airstrip so that, in emergencies, people can be airlifted to Nairobi for specialised treatment,” he said during a past address.

More State board changes

In the same batch of gazette notices, President Ruto also reappointed former Igembe North MP Joseph M’Eruaki as the Non-Executive Chairperson of the Kenya Plant Health Inspectorate Service (KEPHIS) for another three-year term.

The notice reads:

“IN EXERCISE of the powers conferred by section 8 (1) (a) of the Kenya Plant Health Inspectorate Service Act, I, William Samoei Ruto, President of the Republic of Kenya and Commander-in-Chief of the Defence Forces, re-appoint JOSEPH MTERUAKI MUTHIARI as the Non-Executive Chairperson of the Kenya Plant Health Inspectorate Service, for a period of three (3) years, with effect from the 30th June, 2026.”

KEPHIS plays a major role in Kenya’s agriculture sector through seed certification, plant health inspection, pest and disease control, and regulation of planting materials.

President Ruto also reappointed former Baringo Governor Stanley Kiptis as the Non-Executive Chairperson of the Kenya National Qualifications Authority board for another three-year term.