Waiguru Announces Plans to Run for President in 2032
Kirinyaga Governor Anne Waiguru has publicly declared her intention to contest Kenya’s presidency in the 2032 General Election, putting her long-term political ambitions on the record.
Speaking at a G7 women’s leadership forum on Tuesday, October 13, Waiguru made it clear that she intends to pursue the country’s highest political office.
“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 said.
The declaration signals her interest in moving from county leadership to national executive leadership. It also comes as political discussions surrounding the 2027 General Election begin to shape the country’s political landscape.
According to reports by Citizen Digital and The Star, Waiguru linked her ambitions to her experience in public service and her determination to see more women occupy senior leadership positions.
Waiguru Also Eyes Deputy President Position in 2027
Beyond the 2032 presidential race, Waiguru has expressed interest in the Deputy President position ahead of the 2027 General Election.
She called on women leaders to participate actively in political negotiations instead of waiting for male political leaders to decide who should occupy senior positions.
The governor said she intended to push for women’s representation in discussions about the Deputy Presidency, arguing that women should have an opportunity to compete for the position.
Her remarks come as political leaders and parties begin positioning themselves ahead of the next general election. The selection of running mates and negotiations over possible political partnerships are expected to feature prominently in the run-up to 2027.
Waiguru’s statement, however, is an expression of her ambition. It does not mean that she has secured a running-mate position or that any political party has formally endorsed her for either contest.
Waiguru Challenges Double Standards Against Women
During the forum, Waiguru questioned what she described as unequal treatment of men and women seeking senior political offices.
She argued that male politicians can publicly express interest in influential positions without facing the same level of questioning that women encounter.
The governor challenged women to speak openly about their ambitions and demand space in political decision-making.
She also encouraged female leaders to organise across political differences, build alliances and support one another in pursuing elective positions.
Waiguru said her own journey in public service had demonstrated the importance of women supporting women. She recalled becoming the first woman to chair the Council of Governors, a milestone she attributed partly to the support of other female leaders.
She also urged women to prepare themselves for leadership opportunities rather than wait to be selected by others.
Waiguru Renews Call for Gender Balance in Leadership
The Kirinyaga governor also raised concerns about the slow implementation of Kenya’s constitutional two-thirds gender principle.
The principle seeks to ensure that no more than two-thirds of members of elective or appointive bodies are of the same gender. Its implementation has remained a subject of political and legal debate in Kenya.
Waiguru called for renewed efforts to address the gender imbalance, saying women should be involved in decisions that shape the country’s political future.
Homa Bay Governor Gladys Wanga also called for greater solidarity among women leaders, regardless of their political affiliations. Secretary to the Cabinet Mercy Wanjau encouraged women considering elective office to pursue their ambitions with confidence.
The discussions highlighted the continuing debate over women’s representation in Kenya’s national leadership and the role political parties play in creating opportunities for female candidates.
What Waiguru’s 2032 Declaration Means
Waiguru’s announcement places her presidential ambition firmly in the public conversation several years before the scheduled election.
Her immediate political focus also includes the 2027 General Election, particularly the question of who will occupy the Deputy President position and how women will participate in the negotiations surrounding it.
As a two-term governor who was first elected in 2017, Waiguru brings experience in county leadership and national government. Before becoming governor, she served as Cabinet Secretary for Devolution and Planning.
Whether her ambitions translate into a formal presidential campaign will depend on the political decisions and electoral processes that lie ahead.
For now, her declaration is clear: she intends to contest the presidency in 2032 and wants women to have a stronger voice in the political decisions leading up to 2027.
Her announcement adds another dimension to Kenya’s evolving political conversation, bringing long-term presidential ambitions and the push for greater female representation into the same debate.
