NYAHURURU, Kenya — Laikipia University has announced it will confer an Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters (D.H.L.), Honoris Causa, on former Meru Governor Kiraitu Murungi during its 13th Graduation Ceremony on December 11, 2025.
In a statement released by the Office of the Vice-Chancellor, the university said the award recognises Murungi’s “exceptional contribution to national leadership, justice, human rights advocacy, cultural advancement, and community empowerment” over a public career spanning more than four decades.
Murungi, a veteran legal scholar and reformist, holds an LLB and LLM from the University of Nairobi and a second LLM from Harvard University.
He also earned a Certificate in Legal Drafting from the Commonwealth Secretariat in 1980 and was named Best Student at the Kenya School of Law in 1978.
He began his professional journey as an Advocate of the High Court of Kenya before lecturing in law. His political career took shape with his election as South Imenti MP, a seat he held for over 20 years.
During that period, he emerged as one of the key architects of Kenya’s pro-democracy movement in the 1990s, working alongside prominent reformists pushing for multiparty democracy.
Murungi later served in the Cabinet, holding influential dockets such as Minister for Justice and Constitutional Affairs, where he oversaw major governance and legal sector reforms, and Minister for Energy, credited with promoting rural electrification and expanding the country’s power infrastructure.
As Meru’s first governor under the 2010 Constitution, he launched the “Making Meru Great” development blueprint, focusing on agriculture, youth and women empowerment, culture, and public health.
His administration also strengthened county institutions and championed social and economic initiatives that reshaped Meru’s development trajectory.
The university further highlighted Murungi’s work in cultural preservation and mental wellness. He founded the Happiness Resource Centre to promote psychological well-being and the Kimeru Institute to advance Meru cultural heritage.
“Murungi’s fervor for human well-being and happiness inspired the establishment of the Happiness Resource Centre, while his commitment to cultural preservation led to the founding of the Kimeru Institute, both advancing his philosophy of holistic human progress,” the statement read.
Laikipia University said the conferment is a celebration of Murungi’s lifelong dedication to public service, reform, and community upliftment—values that continue to shape national conversations on leadership and justice.
The graduation ceremony at the university’s main campus in Nyahururu is expected to draw students, faculty, alumni, and dignitaries as the institution honours one of Kenya’s most enduring voices in governance and human rights advocacy.
