Francis Mwangi wa Iria commonly known as Mwangi Wa Iria is the current governor of Murang’a County and the vice chairman of the council of Governors of Kenya. He is well known for his famous slogan ‘No wira tu’.
Age
He was born in Kiboi village, Kiharu Constituency. Information but his age will be updated when available.
Education
Mwangi wa Iria attended Kiboi primary School and Wethanga Boys High School. He later attended Moi University and Chartered Institute of Procurement & Supply in the United Kingdom.
Career
Mwangi wa Iria has worked as the Managing Director of New Kenya Cooperative Creameries (KCC), National Sales manager of Kenya Breweries Ltd, CEO of Freshco Seeds, Managing Director of Ngano Feeds Ltd and as General Manager of the Commercial Division of Industrial Promotion Services that brings together more than 30 companies owned by the Aga Khan Development Network.
He became the governor of Murang’a county after winning the 2013 Kenyan gubernatorial elections under The National Alliance ticket, and won his second term as a governor in 2017. His deputy is James Kamau Maina.
Wife
He is married to Jane Waigwe who has been in the frontline to urge investors and Kenyans of goodwill to support the poor in the society so as to uplift their lives. On 19th, April 2019, she joined musicians belonging to Tamco Sacco(A musicians Sacco with members drawn from the larger Mount Kenya region), to celebrate Easther while donating foodstuffs and clothes to childrens home in Murang’a County.
Children
Wa Iria has three children. His first born daughter Rachael Wanja was dating Ben Gatu who is a businessman-cum-politician and Saumu Mbuvi’s baby daddy and they have a daughter together. They have however separated each citing different reasons. Ben Gatu cited reasons to do with difference in opinions and priorities as the reason for separation while Wanja said that Benson Gatu had been physically abusive. There were also speculations that they broke up after Gatu started cheating on her.
Networth
Mwangi wa Iria’s Networth is not yet known but the information will be updated once available.
Corruption Allegations
Mwangi wa Iria has been caught up in various scandals involving corruption and was among the governors summoned by The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission for having amassed wealth in a questionable manner in the years they have been in office. He is believed to have registered properties in the name of his proxies who were also given lucrative tenders. Between the years 2014 and 2016, EACC reported that Mwangi wa Iria received Sh1.58 million in bribes to influence the awarding of tenders to seven companies.
Murang’a County Creameries (MCC)
Mwangi wa Iria brought together all the farmers in the 50 dairy societies to form Murang’a County Creameries. This saw a county government-negotiated deal which stabilized milk prices for Murang’a dairy farmers. Farmers are paid Sh35 per litre of milk as opposed to Sh20 in other regions. According to Wa Iria, Murang’a County Creameries and the contracted processors agreed that milk prices would not go below sh35 but would only fluctuate upwards. This initiative has helped farmers educate and feed their children from milk returns.
