Kenya High Commissioner to India Peter Munyiri has joined Rigathi Gachagua’s Democracy for the Citizens Party and declared his intention to run for Nyeri governor next year.
Munyiri’s entry into the race marks a return to a contest he first entered in 2022, when he unsuccessfully sought the seat on a Chama Cha Kazi ticket.
Following his unsuccessful bid, President William Ruto nominated and consequently appointed as his envoy in New Delhi in October 2023.
Gachagua announced Munyiri’s entry into the party and race on Wednesday when he hosted him at his Wamunyoro residence in Nyeri.
The DCP boss said the economist had decided to return home to serve the county as its fifth governor.
“He has aligned himself with the wishes of the people of Nyeri and will seek the position under the DCP,” Gachagua said, welcoming him to the party.
The former Deputy President promised free and fair nominations and urged Munyiri to build his grassroots support ahead of party primaries scheduled for late March 2027. Former Othaya MP Gichuki Mugambi had emerged as Gachagua’s preferred candidate for the job.
The announcement puts the former banking executive with experience in public service and diplomacy into a race expected to attract several aspirants as political parties prepare for the August 2027 elections.
Munyiri’s political return comes as Gachagua seeks to consolidate DCP’s support in the Mt Kenya region, where the former Deputy President has been building a political base since his fallout with President Ruto.
FROM BANKING TO DIPLOMACY
Munyiri brings a professional background spanning banking, economics and diplomacy.
Before his appointment as High Commissioner to India, he served as Family Bank CEO and held positions at other financial institutions, including Standard Chartered Bank, Barclays Bank of Kenya and Co-operative Bank.
His nomination to the diplomatic service followed President Ruto’s October 2023 reshuffle of Kenya’s ambassadors and high commissioners. He subsequently presented his credentials to Indian President Droupadi Murmu in March 2024.
His experience in the financial sector could provide a foundation for his campaign, particularly on economic management and development financing. However, he will need to translate that professional experience into a county-level agenda that addresses residents’ priorities.
These include agricultural productivity, access to healthcare, roads, water, employment and the management of county resources.
Munyiri’s earlier gubernatorial bid also means he is not an entirely new entrant into Nyeri politics. His challenge will be to establish how much of his previous support base remains intact and whether his move to DCP can strengthen his prospects.
In December 2022, Munyiri was acquitted in a National Youth Service-related money-laundering case involving allegations linked to transactions at Family Bank. The court found that the prosecution had failed to prove the charges against him.
DCP’S NOMINATION TEST
Munyiri’s entry adds another contender to the emerging contest for the DCP ticket in Nyeri.
Already, DCP is facing the task of managing competing ambitions while building a cohesive political organisation.
The county’s governorship is currently held by Mutahi Kahiga, who is serving his second and final term under the constitutional two-term limit. He is seeking the Senate seat.
Other aspirants other than Mugambi contest include Deputy Governor David Kinaniri and Senator Wahome Wamatinga..
Gachagua has previously indicated that he intends to be directly involved in shaping the party’s candidates in Nyeri, making the primaries a key test of his leadership and the party’s internal processes.
His promise of free and fair nominations will thus be measured against how the party handles the competing interests of aspirants.
