Former Meru governor Kiraitu Murungi has announced his retirement from active elective politics, saying he will now focus on promoting workplace happiness and offering advisory support to leaders.
Murungi made the announcement after receiving an honorary doctorate degree from Laikipia University in recognition of his long public service and leadership.
Speaking to family and close friends during the ceremony, he said that after more than three decades in frontline politics, it was time to step aside.
“I have learned my lessons. Having spent over 30 years in active politics, I feel it is time to call it quits,” Murungi said.
Murungi entered Parliament in 1992 and went on to serve as a Member of Parliament and Cabinet minister during the late President Mwai Kibaki’s administration.
He later won the Meru Senate seat in 2013 before being elected Meru governor in 2017.
His political career suffered a setback in 2022 when he lost his re-election bid to Governor Kawira Mwangaza.
He disclosed that the 2022 defeat took a heavy personal toll, admitting that he struggled to adjust after losing an election for the first time in his political life.
Murungi said he underwent counselling and attended personal development classes for nine months, a process that reshaped his outlook on life.
“I would not want to go back to that dark place,” he said, noting that the experience inspired his new mission centred on happiness and personal wellbeing.
Murungi said he will now practise what he termed “low-volume politics,” limiting his involvement to advisory roles while mentoring younger leaders.
His remarks appear to dismiss earlier speculation that he could seek a comeback in the 2027 elections, with some allies previously hinting at a possible Senate bid.
Political observers say his exit creates room for younger aspirants seeking elective positions in Meru.
His wife, Priscillah Murungi, welcomed the decision, saying it was time for him to focus on other meaningful pursuits beyond politics.
At the same event, Murungi outlined the work of the Happiness Society of Kenya, an initiative he founded to promote happiness as a driver of productivity in workplaces.
The organisation is advocating for the integration of happiness indicators in both public and private institutions.
Murungi argued that most people spend the majority of their day at work and warned that dissatisfaction at the workplace often spills over into family life.
He said the society is also advocating for the introduction of “happiness officers” in organisations to help create supportive work environments.
Through the programme, participating institutions will be trained on how to integrate happiness into organisational culture as a tool for growth and improved productivity, Murungi said.
Edited by John Majau
