Kirinyaga Governor Anne Waiguru has entered the contest for President William Ruto’s running mate in the 2027 General Election, setting the stage for competition with Deputy President Kithure Kindiki and other politicians positioning themselves for the influential post.
Waiguru’s declaration has sparked debate over whether she can marshal sufficient political support for Ruto in the Mt Kenya region, which overwhelmingly backed the President’s United Democratic Alliance (UDA) in the 2022 elections but has since witnessed shifting political loyalties.
The two-term governor has expressed her ambition to become Kenya’s first female Deputy President before eventually pursuing the presidency in 2032.
“Anne Mumbi Waiguru will be on the ballot for the President of the Republic of Kenya in 2032. Take that to the bank,” she declared.
“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 added.
Her entry into the race introduces another contender into the emerging contest, which already features Kindiki, Ndia MP George ‘GK’ Kariuki and Laikipia East MP Mwangi Kiunjuri.
Kindiki has been positioning himself for a second term as Deputy President, while Kariuki has openly expressed interest in succeeding him. Kiunjuri, meanwhile, has been promoting his Service Party (TSP) while calling for political unity in Mt Kenya.
Kindiki enjoys the backing of prominent politicians, including former Cabinet Secretary Moses Kuria and Public Service Cabinet Secretary Geoffrey Ruku.
He also draws political support from Mt Kenya East, comprising Meru, Embu and Tharaka-Nithi counties, where he has established his political base.
The Deputy President has dismissed suggestions that he could easily be displaced, insisting that he intends to defend his position while acknowledging that other politicians are entitled to pursue their ambitions.
“I am the fireman, and now, by the grace of God, the Deputy President of Kenya. Do you think there is anybody who can remove me from this seat and chase me away? It is not possible. I will defend myself,” Kindiki said.
Kariuki has also intensified his efforts to position himself as a potential successor, hosting delegations at his Ndia home and declaring his readiness to take up the leadership mantle.
“There is no seat that will not be vacant in 2027, including the President’s seat. He will come back to the people to seek a fresh mandate to lead the people. The Deputy President’s position will be vacant as well,” Kariuki said.
The MP has vowed to campaign for the position and urged Kenyans to support his ambition when he formally seeks their backing.
“I will be pushing to secure the seat, and I hope when I come to seek support, you will accord it to me,” he added.
Kariuki has been critical of Kindiki’s leadership in Mt Kenya, arguing that he has failed to consolidate the region politically.
He attributed UDA’s loss in the July 16 Ol Kalou by-election in Nyandarua County to what he termed Kindiki’s inaction.
Kindiki, however, has maintained that he is committed to uniting the region and countering attempts to divide its communities.
“We have not seen anything yet. We are one people. We don’t want to speak different languages. There is nothing that can divide us. I will unite the people of Mt Kenya region and will not allow attempts to scuttle the unity of our communities. We are one community, one Kenya,” he said.
Kiunjuri, for his part, has indicated that he will continue popularising TSP while advocating political unity in the region.
Political observers say Waiguru’s entry could add another dimension to Ruto’s running-mate calculations, given her Mt Kenya roots and the prospect of selecting a woman for the position.
Homa Bay Governor Gladys Wanga, who holds a leadership position in the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM), has also expressed interest in the Deputy President’s post.
Political analyst James Kilonzo says Waiguru’s gender and regional background could feature in the President’s considerations as he prepares for the 2027 election.
“Besides Waiguru coming from the Mt Kenya region, she is a woman. The President will be considering the women factor in the 2027 contest. Onboarding her as a woman may attract the President’s women vote across the country, beyond the Mt Kenya region, which could be to his advantage,” Kilonzo said.
However, Waiguru’s ambition also raises questions about how she would compare with Kindiki in mobilising political support for Ruto’s re-election.
Kindiki has spent nearly two years as Deputy President building political networks across Mt Kenya’s ten counties while campaigning for Ruto’s re-election. His incumbency and working relationship with the President could also shape the contest.
“Kindiki has an upper hand over Waiguru, as he is banking on his incumbency and the national and grassroots networks he has created over the nearly two years he has been the Deputy President. Besides, he has already created a political bond with President Ruto, which may not be easy to break,” Kilonzo said.
Nevertheless, the analyst cautions against underestimating Waiguru’s political networks, pointing to the connections she developed nationally and at the grassroots during her tenure as Devolution Cabinet Secretary under former President Uhuru Kenyatta.
As the 2027 election approaches, the emerging contest places regional mobilisation, gender representation, incumbency and political alliances among the factors likely to feature in discussions over Ruto’s running mate.
