Ngirici fires back after Gachagua’s comments on Kirinyaga gubernatorial succession
By Bancy Lole, April 11, 2026Kirinyaga gubernatorial aspirant and Kenya Seed Company chairperson Wangui Ngirici has launched a sharp political attack against what she termed “outsider interference” in the county’s leadership succession, in remarks widely seen as a direct response to former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua’s recent endorsement of Kamau Murango as Kirinyaga’s preferred governor candidate.
Speaking during the annual choir competition at St Teresa’s Catholic Parish, Karaba, on Friday, April 10, 2026, Ngirici said Kirinyaga residents would not allow external political figures to dictate who should lead the county after the 2027 General Election.
Her remarks come just days after Gachagua, while speaking at a funeral in Nyandarua County, introduced Kamau Murango as the “governor-to-be” for Kirinyaga, a declaration that has sparked fresh political debate in the Mt Kenya region.
Without mentioning Gachagua by name, Ngirici said the people of Kirinyaga are politically mature and capable of making independent decisions.
“Kirinyaga people are bright enough to elect leaders of their choice without being directed by leaders from outside the county,” she said.
She warned national and regional political kingpins against imposing candidates on the county, insisting that leadership must be determined by the people on the ground.
“No one will plan politics for Kirinyaga from elsewhere. The final decision belongs to the people of this county,” she added.
Ngirici further urged residents to carefully scrutinise all candidates seeking various elective seats and reject attempts by party leaders to force political choices on voters.
Political analysts say the latest remarks signal an early and fierce battle for Kirinyaga’s top seat, with succession politics already taking shape more than a year before the general election.
Ngirici’s own political direction
The statement also revives speculation around Ngirici’s own political direction.
In a recent public event, the former Kirinyaga Woman Representative said she was “listening to the ground”, remarks that fuelled claims among analysts that she could be warming up to join Gachagua’s Democracy for Citizens Party (DCP), a move that would significantly reshape the county’s political landscape.
Her latest statement, however, appears to position her as an independent political force determined to challenge any perceived external influence in Kirinyaga politics.
She also used the platform to mobilise voters, particularly the youth, to register in large numbers during the ongoing voter registration exercise.
Plea to register
Ngirici appealed to residents who registered before 2012 to visit IEBC offices to confirm their voter details and have their biometric data updated.
“Every vote will matter in shaping the future leadership of this county and the country at large,” she said.
With the gubernatorial race beginning to gather momentum, Kirinyaga is fast emerging as one of the most closely watched political battlegrounds in the Mt Kenya region.