Ruto Appoints Kiraitu Murungi to Chair Competition Authority Board
The appointment takes effect immediately and follows the revocation of Charles Mahinda’s appointment as chairperson of the authority’s board.
Former Meru Governor Kiraitu Murungi. Photo: Courtesy.
By Robert Mutasi
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, according to a gazette notice dated June 26.
The appointment takes effect immediately and follows the revocation of Charles Mahinda’s appointment as chairperson of the authority’s board.
“I, William Ruto, 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 June 26, 2026,” the notice stated.
Murungi returns to public service after serving in several senior government positions over the past two decades, including as Cabinet minister and governor of Meru County.
He served as minister for Justice and Constitutional Affairs between 2003 and 2005 before being appointed minister for Energy, a position he held until 2013 during the administration of former President Mwai Kibaki.
As chairperson of the Competition Authority’s board, Murungi will provide strategic oversight and corporate governance while management oversees the agency’s day-to-day operations. The authority is mandated to enforce competition laws, curb anti-competitive business practices, investigate abuse of market dominance and promote fair competition in the marketplace.
In a separate appointment, Ruto reappointed former Tigania East Member of Parliament Joseph Muthuri as the non-executive chairperson of the Kenya Plant Health Inspectorate Service (KEPHIS) for another three-year term.
Muthuri’s new term will begin on June 30, 2026. He will continue to lead the board overseeing the agency responsible for plant health regulation, seed certification, pest and disease control, and the quality assurance of agricultural planting materials.
The President also reappointed Stanley Kiptis as the non-executive chairperson of the Kenya National Qualifications Authority (KNQA) for a further three-year term, effective June 26, 2026.
The latest appointments form part of the government’s ongoing restructuring of leadership in state corporations and public institutions through the appointment and renewal of board officials tasked with strengthening governance and oversight.
The appointments are expected to bolster leadership in agencies responsible for market regulation, agricultural standards and the country’s qualifications framework as the government continues implementing reforms across the public sector.
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