Gender card at the heart of Gachagua's succession race

From left: Governors Ann Waiguru (Kirinyaga), Susan Kihika (Nakuru), Gladys Wanga (Homa Bay) and Cecile Mbarire (Embu). [File, Standard]

With all indications pointing at Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua’s ouster, women leaders are pushing for one of them to be appointed.

Women leaders led by Governors Ann Waiguru (Kirinyaga), Susan Kihika (Nakuru), Gladys Wanga (Homa Bay), Cecile Mbarire (Embu) and Lands Cabinet Secretary Alice Wahome are among the possible Gachagua successors.

President William Ruto’s commitment early this year that his United Democratic Alliance (UDA) would field running mates of the opposite gender in future polls in bid to realise the gender balance is a factor the women leaders are using to lobby for the position.

“We must, as a party, lead from the front and we must make rules that when Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua and myself will have decided…, we must also agree that if a man is a candidate for president in our party, a woman must be the deputy and if a woman is the candidate, the running mate must be a man,” Ruto announced during the launch of the G7 movement that brings together the country’s seven women governors in March 2024.

“And we must also cascade it down to the governors. We must be intentional and deliberate about it, otherwise it will not happen,” he added.

In the event Gachagua's impeachment sails through and one of the women leaders is picked to replace him, she will make history as the first woman Deputy President in Kenya.
Azimio la Umoja presidential candidate Raila Odinga picked Narc Kenya leader Martha Karua as running mate in the 2022 General Election.

While Wanga’s selection would appease the opposition and strengthen the camaraderie between Raila and President Ruto, there is push to have the position return to Mt Kenya to end the public animosity against Ruto’s administration.

Kihika’s chances may diminish because of the regional balance given that she hails from Nakuru which is part of the larger Rift Valley region where the President hails from.
Lands CS Wahome has been silent on the political discourse and this leaves Waiguru and Mbarire as the top candidates for the DP position.

Waiguru, according to sources, is quickly gaining popularity as a preferred nominee. A seasoned leader, she is touted as clinching the nomination should President Ruto decide to go for a woman to deputise him.

A poll conducted by Infotrak and published last Thursday places the Kirinyaga governor as among three leaders that are best placed to replace DP Gachagua but separates her from the pack as being the leading female contender for the possibly soon-to-be-vacant position.

According to the poll, five per cent of the 1,000 respondents interviewed by Infotrak support Waiguru as suitable replacement for Gachagua. This is compared to four percent of the respondents who support Wanga.

Waiguru’s recent endorsement by women governors may also have bolstered her chances.

Women and community leaders from 20 wards in Kirinyaga county endorsed the governor  as the best replacement for Gachagua.

“We have our backup plan. Waiguru's track record has been exceptional. As a county, we have reaped the best from devolution courtesy of Governor Waiguru. We don’t want just a woman, but we want a woman who can deliver,” Khadija Wanjiru said.

Wanjiru cited Waiguru’s vast expertise in economic policy and governance, development track record and education as key ingredients to helping the President get the country back on track. The women said that they are aware that the seat might be falling vacant but then, the people of the mountain are not orphans since they have tried and tested leaders such as Waiguru.