By JANE WAITHIRA
The declaration by Lands Cabinet Secretary Alice Wahome that she could contest the Murang’a gubernatorial seat in the 2027 General Election is set to reshape the political landscape in the county and revive a long-running North-South debate over the distribution of key elective positions.
Wahome, who previously served as the Kandara MP, has hinted that she wants to take over the county leadership, arguing that it is time for Murang’a to elect a woman governor who would bring a different style of leadership.
“This time round, Murang’a will have a female governor and this is the only way the county will realise better development,” Wahome said.
Her potential candidature sets up a major contest with incumbent Governor Irungu Kang’ata, who has been ranked among the best-performing governors in the country.
Despite Kang’ata’s performance ranking, Wahome has repeatedly criticised his administration, arguing that more needs to be done to improve the lives of Murang’a residents.
She now faces the task of convincing voters to end Kang’ata’s first term and hand her the county’s top seat.
Wahome’s possible entry into the race has already attracted support from leaders allied to the United Democratic Alliance (UDA), who have pledged to back her bid.
Among those supporting her are Maragua MP Mary Waithira, nominated Senator Veronica Maina and Murang’a Woman Representative Betty Maina.
The leaders have described Wahome as an experienced politician with the capacity to lead the county and accelerate its development agenda.
Her potential candidature also comes against the backdrop of growing support for the Democracy for Citizens Party (DCP) in parts of the Mt Kenya region, where former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has significant political influence.
Several leaders from the region have shifted their allegiance towards Gachagua’s political camp as parties position themselves for the 2027 elections.
Kang’ata recently moved to DCP after leaving UDA, the party on whose ticket he was elected governor.
His political shift is expected to add another layer to an already competitive gubernatorial contest, particularly as parties seek to consolidate support in the Mt Kenya region.
Former Kigumo MP Jamleck Kamau, who had previously expressed interest in the gubernatorial race, has since dropped his bid after being appointed Wiper party chairman.
Wahome’s entry into the race is also likely to rekindle the long-standing Murang’a North-South debate, which resurfaces almost every election cycle.
For more than a decade, political and opinion leaders in the county have debated which side of Murang’a should produce the governor and senator, the two positions widely regarded as the most influential elective offices in the county.
The North comprises Kiharu, Kangema and Mathioya, while the South includes Gatanga, Maragua, Kandara and Kigumo.
The North currently holds the governorship through Kang’ata, while the South has produced Senator Joe Nyutu.
Leaders from the South have increasingly argued that it is their turn to produce the next governor, saying the region has not benefited sufficiently from county development.
“This time, the governor will come from the South so that the people can also enjoy the benefits of having a governor who hails from their area,” Maragua MP Mary Waithira said.
The North-South rivalry dates back to the early years of devolution following the promulgation of the 2010 Constitution.
Political and opinion leaders from the two regions clashed over the location of the county headquarters, with each side seeking to have the administrative centre established in its area.
Leaders from the South, comprising Gatanga, Maragua, Kandara and Kigumo, pushed for the headquarters to be located at Kenol in Maragua.
Their counterparts from the North, comprising Kiharu, Kangema and Mathioya, wanted the headquarters established in Murang’a town.
After lengthy negotiations, the leaders agreed to retain the headquarters in Murang’a town, which already had infrastructure previously used by the defunct county and municipal councils.
The decision ended the immediate dispute over the headquarters but failed to completely eliminate the political rivalry between the two regions.
With the 2027 elections approaching, the debate is once again gaining momentum, with leaders from the South arguing that political power should rotate to their region.
Wahome’s potential candidature could therefore transform the contest from a straightforward battle between individual politicians into a wider debate over gender, party allegiance, development record and regional balance.
The gubernatorial race is expected to intensify further as more politicians position themselves and political parties begin consolidating their support bases ahead of the 2027 elections.
