Former Laikipia Woman Representative and DCP Women League Chair Cate Waruguru has declared her interest in contesting for the Laikipia gubernatorial seat in the 2027 election.

Speaking at a roadside rally in Nanyuki on Sunday, August 17, 2025, she told residents that the time had come for the county to have a woman governor, arguing that the men who had led before had crippled the county through corruption and misuse of funds.

She added that her constituency in Laikipia West had released her to vie for the top county seat and urged her to seek support from other areas, including Laikipia East, Nyahururu, Laikipia North, Ngorowa, Nanyuki, and across the county.

“Mimi Kama mama Simba, AKA Cate Waruguru, naomba kura yenu ya kiti ya Gavana, Laikipia West constituency wameniambia nitafute marafiki kwingine; mimi naomba baraka zenu; mnisaidie mara hii toungozwe na mama Simba,” Cate said.

Waruguru, who is often referred to as Mama Simba, vowed that she would vie on a DCP ticket led by former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua.

She pledged that under her leadership taxes would be reduced. She also raised concerns about the state of health facilities in the county, saying hospitals resembled museums as they lacked drugs and other essential supplies.

As a close ally of Gachagua and being in the opposition, she also criticised the current government, saying it should not advance beyond 2027.

“Na mimi nikiwa Governor wenu kwa chama ya DCP, nitahakikisha Ushuru imeshuka, Maneno ya afya hospitali zetu zinakaa miseum hakuna madawa.” she added

She also promised the crowd that upon Gachagua’s return from America, she will make sure that his first spot will be in Nanyuki.

Her political career

Waruguru had earlier unsuccessfully contested for the Laikipia West parliamentary seat but failed to make it to the ballot after being defeated in the UDA primaries by the incumbent MP, Karan Stephen. She later joined the UDA campaign trail, traversing different counties to rally support for President Ruto.

After Kenya Kwanza assumed power, she was appointed Chief Administrative Secretary for Foreign Affairs and was sworn in, but the courts later declared the CAS position unconstitutional, leaving her out of office.

Months later, as Gachagua’s impeachment became imminent, she publicly came out in his defence. Since then, she has been in the opposition and has remained a vocal critic of Ruto’s administration.