NAIROBI, Kenya- Lands Cabinet Secretary Alice Wahome has declared her interest in contesting the Murang’a governorship in the 2027 General Election, setting the stage for a potential political battle with incumbent Governor Irungu Kang’ata.
Wahome announced her interest in the race as political competition in Murang’a intensifies ahead of the 2027 polls.
Her entry places her on a collision course with Kang’ata, who is seeking to remain influential in the county’s politics after falling out with the ruling United Democratic Alliance (UDA).
The two leaders have already exchanged political barbs in recent months.
In May, Wahome and other UDA-aligned leaders criticised Kang’ata after he announced that he would not seek re-election on the UDA ticket. The leaders accused him of abandoning the ruling party after benefiting from its political support.
Kang’ata subsequently moved away from UDA and joined the opposition-linked political camp. He recently joined former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua’s Democracy for the Citizens Party (DCP), further reshaping the political contest in the vote-rich county.
Wahome’s decision to enter the race comes as President William Ruto’s allies seek to consolidate support in Mt Kenya ahead of the 2027 elections.
The Cabinet Secretary has been increasingly active in Murang’a, where she has defended the government’s development record while criticising Kang’ata’s political choices. UDA women leaders previously backed Wahome as a potential alternative to the governor.
The contest could therefore develop into a wider political showdown between forces aligned with the government and those supporting Gachagua’s opposition camp.
Kang’ata, who was elected governor in 2022, has increasingly positioned himself outside the UDA establishment. His decision to join DCP has also brought him closer to Gachagua, who has been working to strengthen his political base in Mt Kenya and beyond.
With Wahome now formally expressing interest in the governorship, Murang’a is expected to become one of the closely watched political battlegrounds ahead of the 2027 General Election.
