President William Ruto has appointed former Meru Governor Kiraitu Murungi as the Non-Executive Chairperson of the Board of Directors of the Competition Authority of Kenya (CAK).
The appointment, made through a gazette notice dated June 26, 2026, took effect immediately and will run for three years.
“In exercise of the powers conferred by section 10 (1) (a) of the Competition Act, as read together with section 51 (1) of the Interpretation and General Provisions Act, I, William Samoei Ruto, President of the Republic of Kenya and Commander-in-Chief of the Defence Forces, appoint Kiraitu Murungi to be the Non-Executive Chairperson of the Board of Directors of the Competition Authority,” the notice reads.
Murungi’s appointment revokes that of Charles Mahinda, who had been serving as chairperson of the authority’s board. It also marks Murungi’s return to public service leadership after two terms as Meru governor and decades in government, including stints as Attorney General and Cabinet Secretary for Justice and Constitutional Affairs.
CAK is mandated to promote and safeguard competition in the national economy and to protect consumers from unfair and misleading market conduct.
In practice, that means reviewing mergers and acquisitions, investigating cartel behavior and abuse of dominance, and clearing or blocking deals that could hurt market competition or consumer welfare.
With rising scrutiny of pricing in sectors like food, fuel, digital platforms, and telecommunications, the authority’s role has become more visible.
The June 26 gazette carried two other three-year reappointments of former political leaders.
Former Igembe North MP Joseph M’eruaki M’uthari was reappointed as Non-Executive Chairperson of the Kenya Plant Health Inspectorate Service, effective June 30, 2026, under Section 8 (1) (a) of the KEPHIS Act.
KEPHIS regulates plant health, the quality of seeds and planting materials, and phytosanitary standards for imports and exports. The agency is critical to Kenya’s agricultural trade, because it sets the rules that determine whether produce can enter or leave the country.
President Ruto also renewed the term of former Baringo Governor Stanley Kiptis as Non-Executive Chairperson of the Kenya National Qualifications Authority for three years from June 26, 2026, under Section 10 (1) (a) of the Kenya National Qualifications Framework Act.
The authority coordinates the national qualifications framework, ensuring that certificates, diplomas, and degrees are harmonized, recognized, and aligned with industry and international standards.
The appointments add to a pattern seen since 2023. Former governors, MPs, and senior officials being placed in leadership positions across state agencies and regulatory bodies.
