- Kenya's High Commissioner to India Peter Munyiri seems to have made his way out of President William Ruto's government to join the opposition DCP
- DCP leader Rigathi Gachagua welcomed Munyiri at his Nyeri residence and confirmed the diplomat's intention to contest the county's governorship in 2027
- Munyiri's apparent exit would mark the second Ruto appointee to leave government within a month, following presidential advisor Paul Waiganjo's resignation in September
Kenya's High Commissioner to India, Peter Munyiri seems to have exited President William Ruto's government to join the opposition Democracy for the Citizens Party (DCP).
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He has also declared his intention to contest the Nyeri governorship in the 2027 general election.
DCP leader and former deputy president Rigathi Gachagua broke the news on Wednesday, October 21, following a meeting with Munyiri at his Wamunyoro residence in Nyeri.
"Economist Peter Munyiri has served as Kenya's Ambassador to India and has informed me of his decision to return home to serve the people of Nyeri County as its 5th Governor," Gachagua said in a statement.
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Gachagua welcomes Munyiri into DCP
Gachagua said Munyiri had chosen to align with the people of Nyeri and would contest on a DCP ticket.
He said he had formally welcomed Munyiri into the party, promised him a fair nominations process, and encouraged him to begin mobilising supporters ahead of party primaries scheduled for late March next year.
Munyiri had a distinguished diplomatic profile in New Delhi.
Ruto appointed him High Commissioner to India in an ambassadorial reshuffle announced in October 2023.
He presented his credentials to Indian President Droupadi Murmu on March 27, 2024.
His mandate subsequently expanded to cover Sri Lanka, where he was accredited in November 2024 while remaining based in New Delhi, and later extended to the Maldives as well.
Before entering the diplomatic service, Munyiri built a career in banking, having led Family Bank as chief executive and held positions at Co-operative Bank, Standard Chartered and Barclays Bank of Kenya.
Ruto had also appointed him chairperson of the National Standards Council in June 2023.
Despite Gachagua's announcement, the Kenya High Commission website in New Delhi continued to list Munyiri as the serving High Commissioner. It had not been confirmed whether he had formally tendered his resignation at the time of reporting.
Whilst he is yet to communicate his resignation, his meeting with Gachagua suggested he was out of the regime.
Second Ruto appointee to exit in a month
Munyiri's departure follows a similar move by gospel musician and politician Paul Waiganjo, who stepped down as presidential advisor on development matters on September 25.
Waiganjo had served fewer than four months after being appointed on May 28 and stationed at State House Nairobi within the Office of Programmes and Special Projects.
Waiganjo cited an inability to act on concerns he had observed nationally, particularly in his home county of Nyandarua, and also pointed to economic pressure on traders and workers.
He hinted at a possible 2027 run for county office or the Ol Kalou parliamentary seat, and declared his opposition to Ruto, saying "we're in one-term movement."
Public officers intending to contest elective seats in 2027 must resign by February 9, 2027, six months before the General Election scheduled for August 10, 2027, as set by the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission.
Source: TUKO.co.ke