NAIROBI, Kenya- Murang’a Governor Irungu Kang’ata has ruled out pursuing a deputy-president position on a Democracy for the Citizens Party-backed ticket, saying his immediate focus is defending his gubernatorial seat and helping shape an issues-driven opposition agenda ahead of the 2027 General Election.
Kang’ata said he is preparing to seek a second term as Murang’a governor, framing the anticipated contest against Lands Cabinet Secretary Alice Wahome and Murang’a Woman Representative Betty Maina as a battle of manifestos rather than personalities.
“I am running for re-election. I am not ready to take them on,” Kang’ata said in a television interview, adding that his political journey was centred on fighting poverty and improving people’s lives.
“Mine is not a competition; it is a mission,” he said, maintaining that every contender deserved respect and that voters should be free to choose whoever presents the stronger development agenda.
Murang’a race takes shape
Kang’ata’s remarks come as the race for the Murang’a governorship gathers pace.
Wahome, the Cabinet Secretary for Lands, Public Works, Housing and Urban Development, has signalled interest in the seat, while Maina has declared she will contest on a United Democratic Alliance ticket.
Kang’ata, who joined DCP after leaving UDA, is expected to defend the seat on the party associated with DCP Leader Rigathi Gachagua.
The contest is shaping up as one of the most closely watched Mt Kenya battles, given the county’s political weight and the growing rivalry between UDA and DCP in the region.
The governor said he would not personalise the race, insisting that Murang’a residents should assess candidates on what they have delivered and what they intend to do differently.
“We are not 100%; we have our own weaknesses,” he said. “We hope whatever little we have done can move Murang’a miles ahead.”
‘It is about platform, not positions’
Asked whether he would accept a deputy-president nomination if picked by DCP, Kang’ata said he was not interested in the position.
“I do not want to become a DP for several reasons,” he said, arguing that the opposition should first agree on the platform it intends to offer Kenyans.
“The issue is not about positions; it is about platform- what do you want to do for the country?” he said.
Kang’ata said he had ideas he wanted to share with DCP Leader Gachagua and other opposition figures, including Wiper Leader Kalonzo Musyoka and Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna.
His statement distances him from early speculation about possible running mates as opposition parties explore a common front against President William Ruto in 2027.
The opposition has not settled on a joint presidential candidate or coalition structure.
Kang’ata said an opposition administration should prioritise manufacturing, healthcare and education, while addressing what he described as excessive taxation and regulation facing industries.
“One of the problems I have with this government is over-taxation of industries and over-regulation,” he said.
The comments place the Murang’a governor among opposition leaders seeking to shift the conversation from power-sharing to economic policy, particularly at a time when the cost of doing business, taxation and unemployment remain key political concerns.
Defence of Gachagua
Kang’ata also defended Gachagua against accusations that he is a political bully, citing his experience during political unrest linked to the Ol Kalou by-election period.
He said Gachagua had warned him against attending a political event, but he went ahead and was injured during the violence.
“Riggy G is not a political bully. I should be thanking Gachagua; he saved my life in Ol Kalou,” Kang’ata said.
The governor said he had not taken the warning seriously at the time, adding that people were beaten up during the incident.
His remarks underscore the political repair between the two leaders, who publicly differed during the Ol Kalou campaign period before Kang’ata later joined DCP.
Kindiki and Sifuna factor
Kang’ata also weighed in on national succession politics, arguing that the Kenya Kwanza administration would face political consequences if it moved to replace Deputy President Kithure Kindiki.
“The government trapped itself politically,” Kang’ata said. “By having Kindiki in the DP position, the government has no way to kick him out without incurring political losses.”
He said any attempt to remove Kindiki would create a damaging public perception for the government.
Kang’ata further described Sifuna as a major force within the opposition, arguing that the Nairobi senator’s political appeal had expanded beyond his traditional support base.
“The greatest engine of opposition is Sifuna,” he said, suggesting that changes to the government’s top leadership could create new political openings for opposition figures.
The remarks add to the growing debate over the shape of the 2027 contest, with DCP, Wiper, Linda Mwananchi and other opposition-aligned groups yet to agree on a single presidential ticket.
