Irungu Kang’ata is a Kenyan attorney, politician, and businessman. Currently, he is serving as the Senator of Murang’a county overseeing the county budget. The Senator is also eyeing for the gubernatorial seat in the coming election.
Being a professional lawyer, he serves as a law lecturer at the Catholic University of Eastern Africa.
Leadership has always been in him since he was young, being appointed as a student leader. He went on to fight for a mayoral position now (MCA) and step by step he rose to a parliamentary seat and now he’s a Senator. Hopely in August 2022, he might be rising to a higher position and serve as a governor as he has declared.
As a Christian and a strong devotee of Catholic, he has been on the front line in the fight against same-sex marriage legalization. Ahead of Former US President Barack Obama’s arrival in 2015, Irungu organized a peaceful demonstration against the LGBT community.
Obama is known to support the community and the demonstration was aimed at stopping him from addressing the topic or supporting it.
Irungu Kang’ata Age and Place of Birth
The Senator was born in Kiharu, Murang’a County in the year 1980.
Irungu Kang’ata Family
Kang’ata is the son of the late Joseph Irungu and the Late Margaret Wangechi. He lost his parents in a span of one year back-to-back, his mother died in February 2019 due to hypertension and diabetes while his father died in February 2020 as a result of cancer.
Education Background
He attended Murang’a Township Primary School for his primary level before joining Thika High School for his Secondary school level. He managed to get appropriate grades that enabled him to join the University of Nairobi to pursue law.
He graduated from the institution in 2005 despite being admitted in the late 1990s. His late graduation was a result of a three-year suspension.
After graduating he headed straight to Kenya School of Law in 2006, before securing his Master of Laws at the University of Nairobi.
Irungu Kang’ata Wife and Kids
The renowned politician is a family man, married to Mary Wambui. The two have been together for a couple of years and they have been blessed with three kids.
The two officiated their union at Gathinja Catholic Church in Kiharu, a glamorous event that attracted the attendance of high-profile guests including the President. His best man was the controversial politician Isaac Mwaura.
Irungu Kang’ata Salary and Net Worth
As a senator, he earns an approximated salary of about Ksh 600k without allowances. His net worth including his assets is valued to be around Ksh 100 million.
Career
His leadership career began in school after he was appointed as the student leader. During his early years at the University of Nairobi, he was suspended from the institution for inciting other students to demonstrate in 2000.
The demonstration was to criticize the discrimination of regular students who could not take some courses that were reserved for Parallel students.
Despite the suspension, he managed to vie as a mayor (MCA) of his ward during the 2002 election and won the seat. He was later reinstated to the University in 2003 and completed his law degree.
In 2007, he was called to the bar, and in 2009, he landed a new job in the Attorney General’s office working as a state counsel. He served in that office for a few years before he founded his own law firm, Irungu Kang’ata and Company Advocates.
The firm which is based in the Nairobi Upperhill area deals with corporate law. In 2012, Kang’ata attracted the attention of many Kenyans after he defended Ruth Kerubo.
Ruth Kerubo was a security guard who was allegedly assaulted by the then Deputy Chief Justice Nancy Baraza.
In 2013, he made his comeback in the political field battling for Kiharu parliamentary seat on a TNA ticket. He went ahead and won the seat, serving for only one term, and handed it over to Ndindi Nyoro.
In 2017, he decided to upgrade to a higher position and vied for Murang’as’ Senatorial seat on the Jubilee Party ticket. He managed to clinch the victory becoming the new Senator of Murang’a County.
When things started scrambling in the house of Jubilee Kang’ata was a close confidant of President Uhuru Kenyatta. On the other hand, the Deputy President was forming his brigade to vacate the party.
The people who were supporting the DP and were holding senior positions in both houses were eliminated including Susan Kihika who was the majority whip. After Kihika’s withdrawal, Irungu Kang’ata took over the position in 2020.
He served in that capacity until he wrote a letter to the President telling him how unpopular the Building Bridges Initiative was in the Mount Kenya region. The letter sparked mixed reactions that led to his dismissal from the majority whip position.
Following his dismissal, he joined the UDA brigade and became an Anti-BBI until the initiative was dismissed by the court.
Kang’ata has already announced his intention to lead the people of Murang’a as their next governor in the upcoming election on UDA ticket. Kang’ata will go head to head with the likes of Sabina Chege, Murang’a county Women Rep.
Other Jobs
Away from being a politician and an accomplished lawyer he is also a Disk Joker (DJ). As a DJ he is a huge fan of reggae music and after he was suspended from the University Djeeying was his main hustle.