Kirinyaga Governor Anne Waiguru backed to replace Gachagua in 2027
A lawmaker allied to the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) ruling party has expressed interest in replacing Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua ahead of the 2027 polls.
If she achieves her wish, Mary Maingi, the Mwea MP, will be the first Kenyan woman to occupy the second highest office in the country.
Ms Maingi asserts that it is time women in the country are considered for the presidency.
However, she emphasizes that priority should first be given to outgoing Kirinyaga Governor, Anne Waiguru.
Waiguru is serving her second and final term as Kirinyaga Governor. She has previously served as Devolution Cabinet Secretary.
Ms Maingi suggests succession politics in the Mt Kenya region has been launched very early.
“President William Ruto and his DP Rigathi Gachagua, the duo is in office and firmly in control of this country. I do not think there is any vacant position, but should there be a vacancy, mark my words, should there arise a vacancy, all of us have candidates,” explained the MP.
She added, “Even Kirinyaga has a candidate. We have our governor who is leaving after two terms. It is not (referring to the DP position) a reserve for Murang’a… I do not know Nyeri… It is about us. Let us have a woman deputy president this time round”.
According to the lawmaker, if Governor Waiguru becomes uninterested in the position, she is capable of taking on the mantle.
“If Waiguru is not interested… If my governor Waiguru is not interested, I am interested,” opined the UDA legislator.
These remarks come at a time when political temperatures in the Mt Kenya Region, where DP Gachagua hails from, are high.
A section of Kenya Kwanza lawmakers has endorsed Kiharu MP, Mr Ndindi Nyoro, to succeed Dr Ruto in 2032 should he (President Ruto) retain his seat in the 2027 general elections.
In another twist, the said legislators later ‘proposed’ to the President to drop his current DP, Mr Rigathi Gachagua, as he vies to defend his second term and instead appoint Mr Ndindi as his running mate.
However, DP Gachagua has rubbished the proposals, terming them as “premature politics,” and he asserts that he and the President are on the throne, leading the country forward.
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