Irungu Kang'ata

Irungu Kang'ata
Senator-elect
for Murang'a County
Assumed office
-
Preceded by Kembi Gitura
Personal details
Born 1980
Murang'a
Nationality Kenyan
Political party Jubilee
Alma mater University of Nairobi

Irungu Kang'ata is a Kenyan politician and the Senator-elect for Murang'a County. Kang'ata is a Law graduate from The University of Nairobi and a principal in the firm Muchoki Kangata Njenga & Co. Advocates. He is the outgoing member of parliament for Kiharu Constituency and a former Councillor for Central Ward in Murang'a town.

Early life and education

Kang'ata was born in 1980 in Murang'a County and attended Murang'a Township Primary School (now Vidhu Ramji Primary School) between 1986 and 1993. He was admitted to Thika High School in 1994 where in 1997 he qualified for admission to University of Nairobi for a Bachelor of Laws (LL.B) degree. In 1999 he was elected Vice Chair of Kenya Law Student Society and later in the same year elected the Vice Chairman of SONU. He was suspended in 2000 for two years (but which term turned indefinite after he sued the University ) for leading a strike .He rejoined campus in 2003 after the new NARC regime granted amnesty to former suspended students and graduated in 2005 . In 2006 he joined The Kenya School of Law for his diploma in law. He earned a Master of Laws (LL.M) degree from University of Nairobi.[1]

Career

Kang'ata welcomes President Uhuru Kenyatta to Kiharu Constituency.
Kang'ata chats with Deputy President William Ruto during a past event.

In 2002 Kang'ata was elected as a Councillor for Central Ward in Muranga town. In 2007, Kang'ata, along with Moses Muchoki and Charles Njenga, founded the law firm Muchoki Kangata Njenga & Co. Advocates in Nairobi. The firm became fully operational in 2009.

Kang'ata was in the news in 2012 when he defended Rebecca Kerubo, a security guard who was allegedly assaulted by the deputy Chief Justice Nancy Baraza. Following an inquiry, the deputy Chief Justice resigned nine months after the accusations.[2]

In 2013, Kang'ata contested for the Kiharu parliamentary seat on a TNA ticket. He garnered 63,148 votes, defeating nine rivals to win the seat.[3] The TNA party was later merged with URP to form the Jubilee Party of Kenya which is led by Uhuru Kenyatta and William Ruto, as party leader and deputy party leader respectively.[4]

In 2015, Kang’ata fired three members of the local CDF committee over what he termed as misappropriation of funds meant for bursaries.[5] In February 2016, he called for the overhaul of the Judiciary following claims of bribery and incompetence among judges and magistrates.[6] He also teaches law at Catholic University of Eastern Africa.

In August 2016, Kang’ata filed a petition in the National Assembly accusing KRA enforcement officers of corruption which led to the availability of fake alcoholic drinks in the market. The petition also accused the officers of failing to decentralize enforcement measures to stockists.[7]

Awards

People's Shujaaz Awards

In 2015, Kang'ata was nominated for the Mzalendo Trust People’s Shujaaz Award, given to lawmakers who championed issues of public interest in both the National Assembly and the Senate. Kang'ata was nominated[8] for sponsoring the Higher Education Loans Board (Amendment) Bill,[9] which was however rejected by the President. The bill would have barred HELB from penalizing debtors who were yet to get jobs and had filed affidavits proving that they were unemployed.[10]

CDF Management Award

In the same year, Kang'ata was also awarded by Central Kenya Forum for Peace for best management of Constituency Development Fund (CDF) and investing in domestic water projects. The report by the Forum revealed that Kang'ata had invested more than Ksh.42 Million (around US$41 thousand) in the domestic projects.[11]

Personal life

Kang'ata is strongly opposed to the rights of the LGBT community. In 2015, he led peaceful demonstrations in Nairobi against LGBT people,[12] intended to deter US President Mr. Obama from mentioning gay rights during his visit to Kenya.[13]

Kang'ata leads the anti-gay caucus as they chant slogans against the LGBT community during a march along the streets of Nairobi

Kang'ata lives simply, having made investments while working as a lawyer for the future support of his family.[14] He has been described as Kenya's 'poorest' MP.[15][16][17] He attends many political and charitable events, and makes small financial contributions to a number of organizations.[18]

2017 General Elections

Kang'ata has declared his interest for senatorial position in 2017 general elections. He aims to unseat the incumbent Senator Kembi Gitura. Surprisingly in 2014, Kang'ata was quoted as demanding for scrapping of senate claiming that it duplicated National Assembly tasks.[19] He argued that doing away with the Upper House would save the country a lot of money that would then be channeled to development projects. Announcing his bid, Kanga'ata retracted his earlier statement saying that devolution cannot be realized without the Senate.[20]

Jubilee primaries

In 2017 Jubilee primaries for the Murang'a senate seat, Kang'ata beat incumbent Kembi Gitura with 158,167 votes. Kembi received 146,207 votes.[21] Shockingly, a survey by Infotrak Research and Consulting Ltd had previously showed that the incumbent Senator Kembi would retain his seat.[22]

Kang'ata's win resulted to a bitter exchange of harsh words with his close rival with each accusing the other of rigging. Gitura claimed that Kang’ata rigged in the primaries and was illegally declared the winner.[23]

Senator-elect

According to the final provisional results posted on IEBC portal[24], Kang'ata was ahead of his close competitor by over 10%.

References

  1. ↑ "Irungu Kangata - Biography, MP Kiharu, Muranga, Wife, Family, Age". Kenyan Life - Real Life Experience In Kenya. 2016-04-27. Retrieved 2016-12-30.
  2. ↑ "Kenya judge Nancy Baraza resigns following gun inquiry". BBC News. 2012-10-18. Retrieved 2016-12-29.
  3. ↑ "Summary of Results for Member of National Assembly. 4th March 2013 General Election". Scribd. Retrieved 2016-12-29.
  4. ↑ Ngetich, Jacob. "Jubilee party to transform into Uhuru's re-election vehicle for 2017 polls". The Standard. Retrieved 2017-02-11.
  5. ↑ "Three Kiharu CDF committee members sacked over theft allegations | Kenya News Agency". kenyanewsagency.go.ke. Retrieved 2017-01-03.
  6. ↑ Gikandi, Boniface. "Overhaul Judiciary to fight corruption, says Kang’ata". Standard Digital News. Retrieved 2017-01-03.
  7. ↑ "MPs to summon KRA boss over fake alcoholic drinks". Daily Nation. Retrieved 2017-01-03.
  8. ↑ "Young lawmakers top awards list". Daily Nation. Retrieved 2017-01-03.
  9. ↑ "Parliament of Kenya - Bills". Retrieved 2017-01-03.
  10. ↑ "Young lawmakers top awards list". Daily Nation. Retrieved 2016-12-29.
  11. ↑ "Irungu Kangata - Biography, MP Kiharu, Muranga, Wife, Family, Age". Kenyan Life - Real Life Experience In Kenya. 2016-04-27. Retrieved 2016-12-30.
  12. ↑ Cooper, Jonathan (2015-10-08). "Kenya's anti-gay laws are leaving LGBT community at the mercy of the mob". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2016-12-29.
  13. ↑ Onishi, Norimitsu (2015-07-21). "Obama Kenya Trip Sets Off Gay Rights Debate in Africa". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2016-12-29.
  14. ↑ Ndung'u, Guchu. "Meet Kenya’s ‘poorest’ Member of Parliament". Nairobi News. Retrieved 2016-12-29.
  15. ↑ "This is Kenya's 'Poorest' MP - Kenyans.co.ke". Kenyans.co.ke. 2016-01-04. Retrieved 2017-02-12.
  16. ↑ GISESA, NYAMBEGA. "Kang’ata: Why should I drive in limousines as my people suffer?". The Standard. Retrieved 2017-02-12.
  17. ↑ "Meet Kenya’s ‘poorest’ Member of Parliament - Nairobi News". Nairobi News. 2016-01-04. Retrieved 2017-02-12.
  18. ↑ GISESA, NYAMBEGA. "Kang’ata: Why should I drive in limousines as my people suffer?". Standard Digital News. Retrieved 2016-12-29.
  19. ↑ KBC Channel 1 (2013-06-12), MP vows to push through bill to abolish Senate, retrieved 2017-02-11
  20. ↑ Gitau, Grace. "Kiharu MP Irungu Kang’ata defies Kembi backers, prepares manifesto for Senate bid". Daily Nation.
  21. ↑ "Wa Iria, Kang'ata, Sabina to fly Jubilee flag in Murang'a county". The Star, Kenya. Retrieved 2017-05-10.
  22. ↑ Mwangi, Lonah Kibet and Murimi. "Survey: Wa Iria in clear lead ahead of Jubilee primaries". The Standard. Retrieved 2017-05-10.
  23. ↑ Karanja, Samuel. "After losing in party primaries, this is where politicians are flocking". Tuko.co.ke - Kenya news. Retrieved 2017-05-10.
  24. ↑ "Public RTS". public.rts.iebc.or.ke. Retrieved 2017-08-09.
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