Kirinyaga Governor Anne Waiguru has declared plans to seek the Deputy President’s position in the 2027 General Election before making a presidential bid in 2032, outlining her ambitions during a women’s leadership forum in Nairobi on Tuesday, October 13.
Speaking at the Council of Governors Women Caucus (G7) National Women Leadership Forum, Waiguru said she intended to pursue both positions, signalling her interest in national leadership beyond her tenure as governor.
“I’m going to be on the table for the Deputy President of Kenya in 2027. I’m going to be on the ballot for the presidential race come 2032,” Waiguru said.
Waiguru's political ambitions
She added that she had not settled on the political formation through which she would pursue the presidential race.
“I don’t know what formation shall be there, but I will be running for the presidency,” she said.
Waiguru, who previously became the first woman to chair the Council of Governors, said women remained underrepresented on election ballots and in decision-making spaces.
Call for women's representation
“I stood up for the voice of women. Leadership is a covenant of the future, and that is why we must protect our women,” she said.
She cited childcare and healthcare as areas where women’s experiences could inform policymaking, arguing that increased female representation could help address challenges affecting households.
Nairobi Woman Representative Esther Passaris also called for greater inclusion of women in elected leadership, linking what she described as Nairobi’s failures to the limited number of women elected to office.
Passaris expressed support for Homa Bay Governor Gladys Wanga as a potential presidential candidate in 2032, saying she would wish to see leaders from other regions support her candidacy.
“The country needs to be inclusive. Mount Kenya and Rift Valley have produced presidents it would be my wish if we all endorse Governor Wanga in 2032,” Passaris said.
She also challenged Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja over his leadership of the capital, warning that she could contest the governorship in 2027 if he failed to be accountable.
Challenges in Nairobi leadership
“Sakaja, if you cannot be accountable for Nairobi, even me will join the race in 2027 for Nairobi governorship,” she said.
Nominated Jubilee Member of Parliament Sabina Chege said women leaders would support either Waiguru or Wanga for the presidency in 2032, regardless of their regions of origin.
“We will support Gladys Wanga or Anne Waiguru for the presidency in 2032 regardless of where they come from,” Chege said.
The leaders spoke during the G7 forum, themed “Catalyzing Women’s Leadership for 2027 and Beyond”.
Future of women's political participation
The meeting brought together women MCAs from the 47 counties, political aspirants and women leaders from Parliament and the national government to discuss ways of consolidating women’s political participation ahead of the 2027 General Election.
The remarks highlighted different political ambitions and proposals for possible female presidential contenders in 2032, although the statements did not establish a formal agreement among the leaders to support a single candidate.
