CS Wahome to challenge Kang’ata for Murang’a governorial seat
CS Wahome to challenge Kang’ata for Murang’a governorial seat
Lands Cabinet Secretary Alice Wahome has thrown her weight behind a fresh political contest for the Murang’a governorship, declaring that the county will elect a woman as its next governor in the 2027 General Election.
Wahome, who has emerged as one of the most vocal supporters of President William Ruto in Murang’a, made the declaration while addressing a gathering in the county.
“This time round, Murang’a governor will be a woman, for work to be done,” Wahome told the gathering.
The remarks are likely to fuel speculation that the former Kandara MP is preparing to make a direct attempt at the governor’s seat, potentially on the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) ticket.
Such a move would place Wahome in a high-profile contest against incumbent Governor Irungu Kang’ata, who has since abandoned UDA and aligned himself with the Democracy for Citizens Party (DCP) ahead of the 2027 election.
Kang’ata, who won the governorship on a UDA ticket in 2022, announced earlier this year that he would not seek another term through the ruling party, citing disagreements over its political direction and what he described as increasing intolerance within the party.
He has since joined DCP and declared that he will defend his Murang’a seat through the party associated with former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua.
The development has effectively opened the possibility of a major UDA-DCP battle for control of the county, with Wahome increasingly emerging as a potential flagbearer for the President’s side.
Wahome’s declaration is particularly significant because she has in recent months led a sustained campaign against Kang’ata following his decision to quit UDA.
During a meeting in Maragua in May, Wahome and other leaders allied to Ruto criticised Kang’ata over his political departure and questioned his record in office.
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Wahome accused the governor of abandoning the ruling party at a critical moment and said Murang’a had no shortage of leaders capable of taking over the county administration.
She also argued that political leaders should focus on development rather than opposition politics, pointing to challenges in healthcare and other county services.
Her latest remarks appear to take the political contest a step further by openly introducing a woman candidate as the preferred successor to Kang’ata.
If Wahome eventually secures the UDA ticket, the contest would pit two senior politicians who have previously worked within President Ruto’s political establishment against each other.
Kang’ata joined UDA ahead of the 2022 election and won the governorship with a wide margin, defeating former Kigumo MP Jamleck Kamau, who ran on a Jubilee ticket.
Kang’ata secured 256,561 votes against Kamau’s 91,164, making the former lawmaker his closest challenger in that election.
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