The Cabinet Secretary for Lands, Alice Wahome, has hinted at taking a stab at the Murang'a gubernatorial seat in 2027.

🇰🇪 Breaking It Down

Wahome made the remarks while addressing congregants at a Thanksgiving Service at Gaichanjiru Catholic Parish in Murang'a on Sunday, August 9, in an event attended by Deputy President Kithure Kindiki.

During her address, Wahome suggested that the county could be headed by a woman in the 2027 elections, remarks that could signal her interest in challenging for the gubernatorial seat.

"This time round, the Governor for this county must be a woman, it is high time," stated CS Wahome.

📌 What You Need to Know

This means that once she officially announces the bid, she will be locking horns with the incumbent, Irung'u Kang'ata, who has also announced that he will defend his seat under the banner of the Democracy for Citizens Party (DCP).  Before becoming a CS, Wahome was the Member of Parliament for the Kandara Constituency between 2013 and 2017, and has since asked her supporters to offer full support once she officially declares her bid. Her announcement comes at a pivotal point, amid the exit of former Kigumo MP Jamleck Kamau from the gubernatorial race, who had also expressed interest in the seat and instead announced that he would focus on United Opposition politics. Days later, he was appointed chairman of the Wiper Party, effectively taking him out of the Murang’a gubernatorial contest. Unseating Governor Kang'ata, however, might prove to be a tough order, since he was ranked as Kenya's best-performing governor in the August 2026 Infotrak CountyTrak Performance Index , taking the top spot with an approval rating of 80 per cent.

The ranking assessed governors based on several indicators, including public fund management, fulfilment of campaign promises, transparency and implementation of local development projects, with Murang'a County recording a 47 per cent rating in public fund management.

CS Wahome will join a growing list of Cabinet Secretaries within President William Ruto's camp, as Investments, Trade and Industry CS Lee Kinyanjui is targeting a Nakuru comeback, while Defence CS Soipan Tuya is tipped for Narok's top seat.

Tourism CS Rebecca Miano has emerged with intentions to vie, though she has not made it clear which elective seat she will be going for. ICT CS William Kabogo, a former Kiambu governor, is reportedly plotting a return to that county's leadership race.

Elsewhere, Mining and Blue Economy CS Ali Hassan Joho is weighing a strategic exit for a high-stakes elective bid, while Cooperatives CS Wycliffe Oparanya also plans a political comeback. Labour CS Dr Alfred Mutua is also strategising over a possible elective run.

📰 Source: Kenyans.co.ke