Wanga's Star Rises As Gachagua’s Dims
Wanga’s Star Rises As Gachagua’s Dims
As opinion polls reveal potential candidates and the political grapevine is in top gear over the possible replacement of Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua should the Senate uphold any impeachment charges several names have emerged.
Those from Mt Kenya dominate the speculation.
From Nyanza, only Governor Gladys Wanga has emerged as a potential candidate who can compete at the same level as Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi.
Wanga, a prominent national figure since her election as Homa Bay County Woman MP in 2013, has consistently appeared in polls and mainstream media. She defies Kenya’s traditionally male-dominated political landscape.
With a growing national profile, molded in the political crucible and mentored by former Prime Minister Raila Odinga, Wanga has carved out a niche for herself among equals.
At age 43, youth is on her side, and her next challenge will be navigating Kenya’s often treacherous political terrain with precision and strategy.
Her steady focus on the ultimate prize president is set to pay off as long as she assembles the right arsenal and team to propel her bid come 2032, with shifts in generational leadership change.
Eight years from now, she will be older, wiser, and on a higher pedestal in active national politics. For the presidency in 2032, she will be among the few who will be calling the shots.
Her potential candidacy for the deputy president in the next general election began making headlines long before a possible vacancy arose due to the impeachment motion against DP Gachagua.
The 2027 election will be a timely and strategic take-off for Wanga to enter national politics as some known names will start to exit the stage.
Tabled by Kibwezi West MP Mwengi Mutuse on October 1, the impeachment motion was approved on October 8 for Senate prosecution. This set the stage for a possible shift in leadership late this week as the Senate dispenses with the impeachment in favor of the National Assembly.
Known for her assertiveness and readiness to take on national leadership, Wanga’s rise has been swift. She has become a central figure within Kenya’s power structures, having earned her reputation as a distinguished parliamentarian.
She served on the Parliamentary Service Commission and chaired the influential Finance Committee.
If President William Ruto were to think outside the box and prioritize gender balance, Wanga would be a strong contender to replace Gachagua, being the only candidate from outside Mt Kenya who adds a gender equity dimension to the presidency.
If nominated, Wanga would become Kenya’s first female deputy president and the second leader from Nyanza to hold the position, following Jaramogi Oginga Odinga.
While Mudavadi also hails from outside Mt Kenya, he doesn’t fulfill the gender balance that Ruto emphasized earlier this year.
At the Homa Bay International Investment Conference in 2024, Ruto praised women in leadership roles and reiterated the importance of gender equity in leadership during an event in Embu County.
“Going forward, there’s a need to have a woman deputizing a man, and vice versa, in all elective and appointive positions.”
Under the old constitution, political advancement was difficult, particularly for women, with limited opportunities and a system that favored men.
Trailblazing women like Phoebe Asiyo, Nyiva Mwendwa, Grace Onyango, Grace Ogot, and Chelegat Mutai managed to break through but were often hindered by male chauvinism, regressive cultural practices, and archaic laws.
The 2010 Constitution, however, expanded the democratic space and facilitated affirmative action, leveling the playing field in principle.
As the current national chairperson of ODM, Wanga is poised to outmaneuver many rivals as the 2027 elections approach.
While Kirinyaga Governor Anne Waiguru, who is serving her last term, has been endorsed by the G7 to run for deputy president come 2027, she hails from the same region that has already dominated the presidency over the years, unlike Wanga.
Wanga, with her energy and political acumen, is emerging as a formidable option at a critical time.
Ruto, who will be strategizing intensely for re-election, may see her as the ideal partner to help secure victory.
Wanga’s Star Rises As Gachagua’s Dims
