Irungu Nyakera Biography
Irungu Nyakera was born in 1982 in Murang’a, Kenya, and from a young age, he exhibited remarkable academic talent. He began his educational journey at the prestigious Starehe Boys’ Centre and School, where he received a full scholarship sponsored by Save the Children Austria and Save the Children Fund, British Columbia, Canada.
After excelling in his primary education, he continued to shine during his secondary education at Starehe Boys’ Center, where he served as the School Captain and achieved an impressive ranking in the national examinations. Irungu Nyakera is 42 years old as of 2024.
Irungu Nyakera Career
Nyakera’s academic prowess led him to pursue further studies in Management Information Systems at the Kenya Institute of Management before embarking on a journey to study medicine at the University of Nairobi’s Chiromo campus. However, he deferred his studies briefly to teach Physics and Computer Studies at Nyahururu Elite Schools. His intellectual potential earned him a full scholarship to attend Deerfield Academy in the United States for a gap year, where he received offers from prestigious universities worldwide.
Eventually, Nyakera chose to pursue a Bachelor of Engineering in Management Science and Engineering (Finance and Decision Engineering option) at Stanford University, where he distinguished himself with the Dean’s Award for Exceptional Academic Achievement. After graduation, he ventured into the finance industry, working at Citigroup Investment Bank before returning to Kenya to join NIC Bank Group, where he rose to the position of Managing Director at a remarkably young age.
He further expanded his professional portfolio by serving in various leadership roles, including Regional Head of East and Southern Africa at Frontier Markets Fund Managers, Guarantco, and Managing Director of Equity Investment Bank in Equity Group Holdings. In 2015, he was appointed Principal Secretary of Transport in the Ministry of Transport, Infrastructure, Housing & Urban Development, becoming the youngest to hold the position.
Despite facing challenges, including his dismissal from office in 2018 and involvement in the Arror and Kimwarer dams scandal, Nyakera remained resilient, serving in roles such as Deputy Party Leader in the Democratic Party of Kenya and launching the Farmer’s Party in 2022.
Irungu Nyakera Personal Life
Irungu Nyakera is married to Marryanne, and their relationship is a source of strength and support for him. Despite the demands of his career and public life, Nyakera values his personal relationships and cherishes moments spent with his family.
Irungu Nyakera Net Worth
With a diverse and successful career, Irungu Nyakera has accumulated an estimated net worth of $1.8 million. His financial success is a reflection of his hard work, dedication, and strategic acumen in various professional endeavors.
Other Facts About Irungu Nyakera
Irungu Nyakera, born in Murang’a, Kenya, in 1982, showed outstanding academic talent from a young age. He began his education at the prestigious Starehe Boys’ Centre and School, where he received a full scholarship sponsored by Save the Children Austria and Save the Children Fund, British Columbia, Canada. In 1996, he sat for his Kenya Certificate of Primary Education (KCPE) examination.
His academic success continued during his secondary education at Starehe Boys’ Center, where he served as the School Captain and ranked 32nd among 130,000 candidates in the 2000 Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) examination. Nyakera furthered his education by obtaining a certificate in Management Information Systems from the Kenya Institute of Management.
Before pursuing his university studies, Nyakera taught Physics and Computer Studies at Nyahururu Elite Schools while awaiting admission. In 2002, he enrolled at the University of Nairobi’s Chiromo campus to study medicine. Notably, Dr. Geoffrey William Griffin, the Founder and then Director of Starehe Boys’ Centre and School, granted Nyakera a full scholarship to attend Deerfield Academy as a gap year student. His academic excellence gained global recognition, with admission offers from 14 out of the 18 schools he applied to abroad.
Additionally, he received scholarships from esteemed institutions such as Stanford, Brown, Whitman College, Williams, Yale, and Harvard. Ultimately, he chose to pursue his Bachelor of Engineering, Management Science, and Engineering (Finance and Decision Engineering option) at Stanford University from 2003 to 2007, where he received the Dean’s Award for Exceptional Academic Achievement. During his time at Stanford, Nyakera held various leadership roles and participated in numerous extracurricular activities, including founding the Stanford Africa Business Forum and the Stanford Journal of Africa Studies (Sauti).
Following his graduation, Nyakera entered the finance industry, starting his professional journey at Citigroup Investment Bank on Wall Street before moving to London’s Canary Wharf. After the 2008 global economic downturn, he returned to Kenya and joined NIC Bank Group, where he eventually became the Managing Director at the remarkable age of 28. He further expanded his expertise by serving as the Regional Head of East and Southern Africa at Frontier Markets Fund Managers, Guarantco (2013-2014), and later as the Managing Director of Equity Investment Bank in Equity Group Holdings from 2014 until his appointment as the Principal Secretary of Transport in 2015.
Nyakera served as the youngest Principal Secretary, State Department of Transport in the Ministry of Transport, Infrastructure, Housing & Urban Development. In 2017, he was reassigned to the Ministry of Devolution and Planning, assuming the role of Principal Secretary for Planning and Statistics. However, in January 2018, he was dismissed from office upon the second-term Cabinet appointment by President Uhuru Kenyatta.
In 2019, Nyakera’s involvement in the Arror and Kimwarer dams scandal surfaced, although he was listed among the suspects, no charges were brought against him. Subsequently, in June 2020, he was appointed to the National Tea Steering Committee by the Cabinet Secretary of Agriculture, Kenya, a position he held until October of the same year. Nyakera then ventured into politics, becoming the deputy party leader in the Democratic Party of Kenya. In 2022, he founded the Farmer’s Party, expressing his aspirations to contest the gubernatorial seat in Murang’a County during the 2022 General Election. Although he secured 21,150 votes, he did not win the election.
Now leading Kemsa’s board, Nyakera brings renewed hope for the organization’s future. With his diverse background, he has the potential to guide Kemsa towards transparency, accountability, and effective medical supply management. As the agency strives to overcome its troubled history, it is crucial to closely monitor and evaluate the outcomes of Nyakera’s leadership in transforming Kemsa into an organization that prioritizes the needs of the Kenyan people.
In 2023, President William Ruto appointed Irungu Nyakera as the new board chairperson of the Kenya Medical Supplies Agency (Kemsa) to address deep-rooted corruption and mismanagement of medical supplies. With his track record of academic excellence and diverse professional background, Nyakera brings a fresh perspective to the scandal-laden state corporation. His appointment signifies a pivotal moment in Kemsa’s history as he commits to lead the agency out of what he describes as a mess. Irungu Nyakera is married to Marryanne and has an estimated net worth of $1.8 million.
Sage is a financial/consumer journalist and senior editor, personal finance, of TrendsHQ. EXPERTISE: Personal Finance, Careers, Jobs, Scholarships, and Entertainment.