Farmers’ party of Kenya has appointed former gubernatorial candidate Irungu Nyakera as its new leader to replace David Nduati.

Nduati, the founder of the party, passed on in October last year.

Nyakera has been serving as the party’s national chairman prior to his appointment.

His appointment on Friday was confirmed by the party’s National Executive Committee (NEC) during a meeting held at Salehe Hotel, Nairobi.

In his acceptance speech, the former gubernatorial hopeful underscored the commitment of the party to empowering farmers in the country. 

He expressed the party’s commitment to working with the Kenya Kwanza administration and declared support for President William Ruto and Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua.

Nyakera said that the party will initiate a member registration exercise across the country and urged Kenyans to support them.

“We fully support the Kenya Kwanza government and we are fully behind President Ruto and his deputy Rigathi Gachagua,’ Nyakera said.

The former Transport PS holds a Bachelor’s degree in Management Science and Engineering (majoring in finance analysis and decision engineering) from Stanford University.

He started his career at Citigroup Investment Bank in the UK before relocating to Kenya after the global economic turmoil in 2008.

The former Murang’a gubernatorial aspirant joined the NIC Capital where he rose to the rank of managing director aged only 28 years.

Farmers Party national director for publicity Albert Kasembeli told the Star that the National Executive Committee pledged to support Nyakera and urged him to push for the interest of farmers in government.

“It’s true, Nyakera has been nominated as the party leader following the demise of Kigochi last year and he was tasked to push for the interest of the party and that for farmers across the country,” Kasembeli said.