Kirinyaga Governor Anne Waiguru has declared her intention to contest the presidency in 2032 while expressing interest in becoming President William Ruto’s running mate in the 2027 General Election.
Waiguru made the announcement on Tuesday, October 13, 2026, while addressing a G7 women’s leadership forum, where she challenged women to pursue top political positions instead of waiting to be selected by their male counterparts.
“I want to make a declaration today that Anne Mumbi Waiguru will be on the ballot for President of the Republic of Kenya in 2032. Take that to the bank!” she declared.
The governor said her ambition was informed by her years in public service, experience in elected leadership and confidence in her ability to mobilise support.
Waiguru Wants Women Included in 2027 Power Talks
Beyond her long-term presidential ambitions, Waiguru said women must have a seat at the table during negotiations over senior government positions ahead of the 2027 elections.
She specifically pointed to the Deputy Presidency, saying female leaders should actively pursue the position rather than wait for political leaders to offer it to them.
“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 said.
Her declaration adds her name to the discussion surrounding Ruto’s potential running mate as political leaders position themselves ahead of the next General Election.
Waiguru’s statement does not mean she has secured the President’s endorsement or the backing of a political coalition for either ambition.
Governor Says Women Must Break Leadership Barriers
Waiguru framed her presidential bid as part of a broader effort to expand opportunities for women in Kenya’s political leadership.
She urged women to organise, support one another and challenge the barriers that have limited their representation in senior elective and appointive positions.
The governor also reflected on her own political journey, crediting fellow women leaders for helping her rise through public service.
“I could never have become Chairperson of the Council of Governors without the support of my sisters,” she said.
Waiguru previously served as Cabinet Secretary for Devolution and Planning before being elected Kirinyaga governor in 2017. She also became the first woman to chair the Council of Governors.
Waiguru Renews Call for Two-Thirds Gender Principle
The governor also called for the full implementation of the constitutional two-thirds gender principle, which seeks to ensure that no more than two-thirds of members of elective or appointive bodies are of the same gender.
She expressed concern that the country continued to debate how to achieve the required gender balance years after the 2010 Constitution was promulgated.
Waiguru argued that women needed to move beyond calls for inclusion and become active participants in political negotiations, campaign planning and decision-making.
Homa Bay Governor Gladys Wanga also called for solidarity among women leaders across political parties, while Secretary to the Cabinet Mercy Wanjau encouraged women considering elective office to pursue their ambitions with confidence.
What Waiguru’s Declaration Means for 2027 and 2032
Waiguru’s announcement sets out two political ambitions: seeking the Deputy Presidency in 2027 and contesting the presidency five years later.
The 2027 ambition places her in the wider conversation over who could deputise Ruto if he seeks re-election. However, the eventual running mate will depend on political decisions and negotiations that have yet to be concluded.
Her 2032 declaration, meanwhile, signals her intention to pursue the country’s highest office regardless of the outcome of the next election cycle.
For now, Waiguru has made her intentions public, placing women’s representation and her own political future firmly in the debate ahead of the 2027 General Election.
