By Samuel Owida
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, moulded 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 a 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 favour of 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
prioritise 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 emphasised 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 deputising 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 favoured
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, levelling the playing field in principle.
As the current national chairperson of ODM, Wanga is poised to
outmanoeuvre 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 strategising intensely for re-election, may see
her as the ideal partner to help secure victory.