Kirinyaga Governor Anne Waiguru when she declared her interest in becoming Deputy President during a G7 women’s leadership forum on October 13, 2026/HANDOUTKirinyaga Governor Anne Waiguru’s declaration of interest in becoming Deputy President has opened a new front in the battle over President William Ruto’s 2027 running mate.
With incumbent Kithure Kindiki fighting to retain his position and ODM demanding the seat under a pre-election power-sharing deal, the Deputy President slot could emerge as a major headache for Ruto.
Waiguru has officially declared her interest in the Deputy Presidency in 2027 and announced plans to pursue the presidency in 2032, setting the stage for a contest that could pit individual ambition against regional interests and coalition bargaining.
Her announcement comes as ODM chairperson Gladys Wanga maintains that the party will support Ruto’s re-election bid if it is allocated the Deputy President position under a pre-election agreement.
“When the President is re-elected, the Deputy President should be from ODM; that is the road that we are going to walk,” Wanga said.
The bid places Ruto in a potentially difficult position as he navigates competing expectations from his current deputy, leaders from his Mt Kenya political base and a party seeking a bigger role in the next administration.
Waiguru made her announcement on Tuesday while addressing a G7 women’s leadership forum, where she called for greater representation of women in high-level political negotiations.
The governor said women should assert their interests in the country’s top leadership rather than wait for male political leaders to offer them positions.
“I want to make it clear that I intend to push for women’s representation at that table, including in the conversation about the Deputy Presidency of the Republic of Kenya,” she said.
Her declaration introduces the prospect of a female running mate into a debate currently dominated by Kindiki’s efforts to retain the position and ODM’s demand for a share of the top executive leadership.
Kindiki, who became Deputy President following the impeachment of Rigathi Gachagua in 2024, has maintained that the position is not vacant and has defended his record in office as justification for retaining the slot.
United Democratic Alliance (UDA) Secretary General Hassan Omar has also affirmed that Kindiki remains the party’s designated running mate for the 2027 General Election.
Political analyst Daniel Orogo said the contest was complicated by the fact that both Waiguru and Kindiki come from Mt Kenya, raising questions about regional representation and succession within Ruto’s political camp.
“Kindiki, who was picked as Ruto’s running mate following the impeachment of former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua in 2024, is seeking to retain his position and has maintained that the seat is not vacant,” Orogo noted.
He said ODM’s demand for the position introduced another dimension to the debate, with Ruto having to weigh the interests of a potential coalition partner against those of leaders in his existing political camp.
“For Ruto, the challenge would be balancing these interests without unsettling the political alliances that underpin his re-election plans. Accommodating ODM’s demand could raise questions about Kindiki’s future and risk discontent among Mt Kenya leaders who expect the region to retain the position,” Orogo said.
Waiguru’s entry could also reopen debate about whether Ruto might consider a female running mate as he seeks to consolidate support across different political constituencies.
However, her declaration does not in itself establish that she has secured the backing of the President or his party.
Political observer Joseph Mutua said the governor’s bid had added another layer to the contest, bringing regional interests, individual ambition and coalition negotiations into direct competition.
“The central question is whether Ruto can negotiate a deal with ODM while maintaining the confidence of Kindiki and other Mt Kenya leaders – or whether the running mate question will become a major point of friction within his political camp ahead of 2027,” Mutua said.
With ODM pressing its claim, Kindiki seeking to retain his position and Waiguru declaring her ambitions, the choice of Ruto’s running mate is emerging as a key issue in negotiations ahead of the next General Election.
