Former Kirinyaga Woman Representative Wangui Ngirici announced that she will not run for the Kirinyaga gubernatorial seat as an independent candidate, a departure from her 2022 campaign.
During a forum in Karima, Kirinyaga County, on May 1, 2025, Ngirici, recently removed as chairperson of Kenya Seed Company after switching her political allegiance to the Wantam movement, expressed that her previous independent campaign was exhausting. She emphasized that her challenging experience led her to pursue a political party to support her gubernatorial aspirations, stating that running independently is both difficult and unsustainable.
“I’m not going independent; I found it very hard to secure votes as an independent candidate last time,” she remarked.
Ngirici, a former member of the United Democratic Alliance (UDA), faced political instability after Kirinyaga Governor Anne Waiguru aligned with President William Ruto, creating tensions within the party. This shift compelled Ngirici, who had heavily invested in promoting UDA in the Mount Kenya region, to carve out her own political path, though it faced setbacks.
At the forum, she also discussed her recent appointment revocation by Finance Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi, clarifying that she had resigned prior to declaring her allegiance to the Wantam movement and is now awaiting approval of her resignation.
As the Kirinyaga gubernatorial race intensifies, it has attracted two additional candidates: Ndia MP Kariuki George Macharia, who chairs the Roads and Transport National Assembly Committee, and County Senator James Kamau Murango, who has been suggested by former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua as his preferred candidate. This development unsettled Ngirici, prompting her to urge Kirinyaga residents not to accept a leader imposed upon them.
In parallel, Anne Waiguru, currently serving her final term as Kirinyaga governor, appears to be eyeing both senatorial and deputy presidential positions, though she has not publicly declared her intentions. Her recent comments hint at aspirations for the second-in-command role.
