By James Murimi - Reporter
Kenya, 7 May 2026 - Democracy for Citizens Party (DCP) Women League chairperson Cate Waruguru has officially thrown her hat into the Laikipia gubernatorial race, setting the stage for a fierce 2027 political showdown that is already drawing heavyweight contenders and sharpening divisions between President William Ruto’s allies and the emerging opposition camp.
Waruguru, a close ally of former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, declared her interest in the seat through a strongly worded social media statement that signalled the beginning of an aggressive grassroots campaign.
“The people have spoken and I have heard you, loud and clear,” Waruguru posted on her Facebook page.
“Kuskiza ground is not a slogan; it is a commitment. Because leadership is not about being ahead of the people, it is about walking with them.”
In a message seen as both a political comeback and a direct challenge to Kenya Kwanza-allied leaders in the county, the former Laikipia Woman Representative said she had spent time consulting residents and preparing for a major political return.
“Many have asked where I’ve been, and where we are going. The answer is simple: Laikipia. Listening. Learning. Preparing. Now, the moment is here,” she said.
“Together, we will build a Laikipia that works for every family, every youth, every biashara. A county defined not by promises, but by progress.”
She capped the declaration with the slogan: “The arena is set. Gavana ni mama. Laikipia lazima iwork.”
Waruguru’s entry now opens a new political front in Laikipia, with the county shaping up into one of the most hotly contested governor races in the Mt Kenya region ahead of the next General Election.
After the Kenya Kwanza administration took power, Waruguru had briefly secured a political lifeline after being appointed Chief Administrative Secretary (CAS) in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. However, her stay in government was cut short after courts declared the CAS positions unconstitutional.
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Her political relationship with President William Ruto’s administration later deteriorated after she publicly defended Gachagua during the impeachment push against the former Deputy President, eventually joining the opposition ranks and becoming a vocal critic of the Kenya Kwanza government.
Her latest move now places her on a collision course with Laikipia East MP Mwangi Kiunjuri, who has also declared interest in succeeding Governor Joshua Irungu, whose second and final term is coming to an end.
Kiunjuri, the party leader of The Service Party (TSP), which is allied to the ruling Kenya Kwanza coalition, announced earlier this year that he would not defend his parliamentary seat but instead contest for governor.
“Mwangi Kiunjuri will be running for the governor’s position,” Kiunjuri said during an interview with a local vernacular television station in February.
“I am from Mt Kenya and don’t think you will come to the region and tell the people not to elect me because I have worked for them,” he added.
Kiunjuri famously defeated Waruguru’s political camp in the 2022 elections after clinching the Laikipia East parliamentary seat under the TSP ticket. Waruguru had unsuccessfully sought the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) nomination for the same seat but lost during party primaries to Amin Deddy.
The race is also expected to attract former Laikipia Governor Ndiritu Muriithi, currently serving as chairperson of the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA), who is reportedly plotting a political comeback.
With rival camps already mobilizing across the county, political observers say the battle for Laikipia governor is rapidly evolving into a high-stakes supremacy contest pitting Kenya Kwanza loyalists against Gachagua’s growing political network in the Mt Kenya region.