Opiyo Wandayi, born 12 June 1972, is a Kenyan Politician and agricultural and development economist. As of August 2024, he serves as the Cabinet Secretary for Energy and Petroleum, having been nominated by President William Ruto in July 2024 and sworn in on August 8, 2024.
OPIYO WANDAYI PROFILE
| Name | Opiyo Wandayi |
| Real Name | James Opiyo Wandayi |
| Date Of Birth | 12 June 1972 |
| Age | 52 Years |
| Nationality | Kenyan |
| Occupation | Politician and Economist |
| Religion | Christian |
| Marital Status | Married |
| Net Worth | N/A |
| Copied From | Contents101.com |
OPIYO WANDAYI BIOGRAPHY
James Opiyo Wandayi was born on June 22, 1972, in Muhola village, Sidindi Ward, Ugunja Constituency, Siaya County, Kenya. He grew up in a rural setting and was raised in a community that valued education and leadership.
EDUCATIONAL BACKGROUND
He began his primary education at Sikalame Primary School, completing his KCPE in 1986. He proceeded to Sawagongo High School, where he sat for his KCSE in 1990.
He joined the University of Nairobi in 1992 and graduated in 1996 with a Bachelor of Science in Agriculture, specializing in Agricultural Economics.
In 2008, he earned a Diploma in Business Management from the Kenya Institute of Management. In 2010, he obtained an Executive MBA from Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT). He later pursued a Bachelor of Laws (LLB) degree at Daystar University.
CAREER
Opiyo Wandayi’s career began in the private sector, where he joined British American Tobacco (BAT) Kenya in 1998. Over 14 years, he rose through the ranks to become the Leaf Business Sustainability Manager, responsible for operations in Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
His political journey began in the 1990s while still a university student, actively participating in student politics. In 1996, he was a founding member of the National Development Party (NDP) and contributed to its national expansion. In 2013, Wandayi was elected Member of Parliament for Ugunja Constituency, a position he retained in both the 2017 and 2022 general elections. He has served on numerous parliamentary committees, notably chairing the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) from 2017 to 2022.
In 2022, he was elected as the Minority Leader in Kenya’s 13th Parliament under the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM), part of the Azimio la Umoja One Kenya Coalition. In July 2024, he was nominated by President William Ruto as the Cabinet Secretary for Energy and Petroleum, and was officially sworn in on August 8, 2024.
CONTROVERSIES
In March 2016, he was expelled from Parliament for blowing a whistle during President Uhuru Kenyatta’s State of the Nation Address. He was suspended for the remainder of the session but successfully challenged the suspension in court.
In March 2023, he was arrested alongside other Azimio lawmakers for allegedly destroying private property during protests in Nairobi. The charges were later dropped in April 2023 to allow for alternative dispute resolution.
OPIYO WANDAYI SOCIAL MEDIA HANDLE
https://twitter.com/opiyowandayi?lang=en
PERSONAL LIFE
Wandayi is known to keep his personal life private. He is, however, deeply rooted in community development and is the patron of The Opiyo Wandayi Foundation (TOWF).
OPIYO WANDAYI NET WORTH
As of 2025, Opiyo Wandayi’s net worth is not publicly disclosed.