The Mountain Journal
A new political formation is taking shape in Laikipia, with the former woman representative, Catherine Waruguru, recognising the Deputy Governor Reuben Kamuri as a leader, pointing out mistakes in the devolved unit.
Waruguru, who is contesting for the Gubernatorial position in the next general election, said Kamuri was one of the few leaders consistently questioning Laikipia county administration over alleged misuse of public funds, corruption, nepotism, incompetence, and poor development performance.
Kamuri, she pointed out, has remained vocal in challenging Governor Joshua Irungu and County Secretary Koinange Wahome over what she termed as failed leadership at the county level.
But beyond the praise, political analysts believe Waruguru’s remarks could signal the early stages of a strategic political realignment in Laikipia.
By aligning herself with Kamuri’s reformist tone, Waruguru appears to be positioning herself as the face of a new political front that could rally leaders from Laikipia East, a region that has historically played a decisive role in determining the county’s political direction.
Waruguru argued that the time was ripe for Laikipia to elect a female governor, after the male leadership for the last 15 years had failed to initiate meaningful development despite billions of shillings ploughed in by the national government and the local revenue.
Her political move has sent leaders eying the gubernatorial slot shivering over fear of the aspirants from Laikipia East forging a united political bloc to defeat their rival from the West.
Former Laikipia East MP Amin Deddy has warned Laikipians against electing KRA Chairman Ndiriti Muriithi and Laikipia East MP Mwangi Kiunjuri as the governor in 2027 after he described them as ineffective.
In the region, others eying the Gubernatorial position are County Secretary Wahome Koinange, Kihunyu Gitogo, and Kuria Ndirangu.
