Joshua Irungu

Joshua Wakahora Irungu (born 2 February 1970) is a Kenyan politician and community development specialist. He was appointed to the position of Chairperson of Water Services Regulatory Board (WASREB) in Feb 2019.[1] He is the first and third governor of the County of Laikipia first serving from 2013 to 2017, representing the Jubilee Coalition party TNA and securing a return running on a UDA ticket in 2022.

Joshua Wakahora Irungu,EGH
Governor Laikipia County
Assumed office
August 9, 2022
Personal details
Born (1970-01-01) 1 January 1970
NationalityKenyan
Political partyUDA
SpouseGrace Wakahora
Children4
ResidenceKinamba Laikipia County
Alma materEgerton University (B.A Natural resources management)
M.A Agriculture and Community development
OccupationCommunity development specialist
CommitteesChairman Water Services Regulatory Board (Wasreb Kenya)
Websitehttps://joshuairungu.co.ke

Education

Joshua Irungu holds a master's degree in Agriculture and Rural Development in addition to a bachelor's degree in Resource Management from Egerton University.[2][3]

Career

Up until the year 2000, Joshua Irungu was a civil servant in Kenya's Ministry of Agriculture. He was in charge of Agriculture and Livestock Development officers in charge of Laikipia West and Nyahururu divisions of what was then Laikipia District. He resigned from government and joined USAID, for whom he was in charge of the International Small Group and Tree planting programme(ISGTPP).[4] In total he has over 15 years experience in Community Development programmes in Laikipia County.

2013 General Elections

Joshua Irungu, and his running mate Josephat Kabugi Gitonga[5] won the 2013 Gubernatorial election in Laikipia County by a landslide, having secured the nomination of the National Alliance party earlier in the year.[6]

CandidateRunning MateCoalitionPartyVotes
Irungu, Joshua WakahoraKabugi, Josphat GitongaTNA21,561 (57.4%)
Kamau, Richard MburuShuel, Joseph NjalisAP1,883 (5.0%)
Kiunjiri, Festus MwangiGichuhi, David MainaGNU10,889 (29.0%)
Muriithi, NdirituPutunoi, Jane TingisUDFP3,257 (8.7%)

Governorship Tenure

Joshua Irungu's tenure as governor ran into controversy due to his association with a move by Kenyan politicians calling for the evicting of white settlers from the country. He was said to have demanded the departure of settlers of British origin from Laikipia County for 'failure to support deferral of cases facing President Uhuru Kenyatta and his deputy William Ruto at the international Criminal Court' a statement for which he later apologized.[7]

2017 General Elections

Joshua Irungu was narrowly defeated in the 2017 Governor's race by Independent candidate Ndiritu Muriithi.

2022 General Elections

In the 2022 general elections Joshua Irungu, running as the United Democratic Alliance party candidate of the Kenya Kwanza alliance, won back the governorship of Laikipia from Nderitu Muriithi. He garnered 113,783 votes while Muriithi, who was vying on a Jubilee ticket under Azimio la Umoja coalition came second with 48,563 votes.

Family

Joshua Irungu is married to Grace Wakahora and a father of three sons and a daughter.[8]

References
  1. "Kenya Law | Kenya Gazette".
  2. http://www.mudavadi2013.com/South_Rift/Laikipia/Joshua%20Irungu.htm Archived 4 March 2016 at the Wayback Machine 31. LAIKIPIA COUNTY
  3. http://www.standardmedia.co.ke/choice2013/candidates/details/203/-joshua-irungu Choice 2013: Joshua Irungu
  4. H.E. Joshua Irungu: County Government of Laikipia
  5. "English: Gitonga Kabugi". 12 January 2017.
  6. Mwakilishi.com "View Results of the Kenya Elections from All Counties Using Our Interactive Tool | Mwakilishi.com". Archived from the original on 10 May 2013. Retrieved 30 July 2013.
  7. Leave white settlers alone, Meru leaders now warned http://www.mediamaxnetwork.co.ke/thepeople/77615/leave-white-settlers-alone-meru-leaders-now-warned%5B%5D
  8. H.E. Joshua Irungu: County Government of Laikipia


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