PNU roots for Munya to be Raila’s deputy

• Feb 25, 2022

PNU roots for Munya to be Raila’s deputy

By Justus Karanja

The Party of National Unity (PNU) has urged ODM leader Raila Odinga to pick Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Peter Munya as his running mate in the August 9 General Election.

Munya is the Party Leader of PNU.

Speaking during the party’s National Delegates Congress (NDC) that endorsed Raila’s presidential bid after President Uhuru Kenyatta endorsed him, speakers urged the ODM leader to pick Munya as his running mate, noting he would deliver the about 6 million votes from the Gikuyu, Embu and Meru (GEMA) communities to Raila’s basket.

Munya hails from the Meru community. He was the Meru governor between 2013 and 2017. He lost the gubernatorial seat to Kiraitu Murungi in the 2017 General Election.

The delegates said Munya is the safest bet for Raila as running mate due to his sterling performance that has earned him accolades from President Uhuru Kenyatta and also Kenyans.

While addressing Mt Kenya delegates at Sagana 111, Uhuru noted that Munya had transformed the agricultural sector in just one and half year.

The President’s words were interpreted as an endorsement of Munya to become the regional kingpin after him.

Munya also has a sterling academic and professional record. He sat for and passed his ‘O’ Levels at Chogoria Boys High School and then proceeded to Meru School for his ‘A’ levels.

 At Meru School, Munya was the Chairman of the Debating Club and a winner of the Provincial Public Speaking Competition.

In 1993, Munya graduated with a Bachelor of Law degree, from the University of Nairobi.

 At the University of Nairobi, Munya was twice elected, in 1992 and 1993, chair of the Kenya Law Students Society (KLLS).

In January 1995 he went to the University of Brussels, Belgium, on a Belgian Embassy scholarship.

He undertook and attained a master's degree in International Law (International Economic Integration Law).

He then proceeded to the University of Georgia where he attained a second master's degree in Law (Public International Law).

In 1997 he was published in the Boston University International Law Journal, under the title ‘The Role of the Organisation of African Unity in Conflict Resolution and Dispute Settlement in Africa’.

Upon his return to Kenya, he took a job as a Law Lecturer at the Kenya School of Professional Studies (KSPS) and Kenya School of Monetary Studies (KSMS).

In 2000 he was appointed a lecturer of Law at Moi University, Eldoret where he taught Law.

At Moi University, Munya was published in the Moi University Journal in 2002 under the title, ‘The Role of the International Court of Justice in Resolving African Disputes: Past, Present and Future Prospects’.

In 2002 he left Moi University to set up Kimaiyo and Munya Advocates.

In the same year, Munya began his political career and campaigned for and won the Tigania East parliamentary seat in the then Meru North District. He was subsequently sworn into the 9th Kenyan Parliament on 9 January 2003, recapturing the seat in 2007.

He was also an assistant minister of East Africa and later an assistant minister of Internal Security.

In 2013 he became first governor of Meru County.