In Kenya’s dynamic political landscape, one woman has achieved the extraordinary, setting a record as the highest-voted female Member of Parliament (MP) in the nation’s history.
Githunguri MP Gathoni Wamuchomba set this record during the 2017 general election when she garnered an unprecedented 922,829 votes in the Kiambu County Woman Representative contest.
This remarkable achievement made her the third most voted-for individual in that election, following President Uhuru Kenyatta and Opposition Chief Raila Odinga, who received 8,203,290 and 6,762,224 votes, respectively.
Wamuchomba’s victory was largely attributed to her previous role as a vernacular radio presenter at Inooro and Kameme FM, where she built a significant grassroots following. This popularity translated into overwhelming support at the ballot box.
Her decision to run on the Jubilee Party ticket, which dominated Kiambu County politics at the time, further bolstered her chances.
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Despite being her first major political contest, Wamuchomba emerged victorious, decisively defeating incumbent Anne Nyokabi during the Jubilee Party nomination process.
She served as the Kiambu Woman Representative for five years before successfully contesting for the Githunguri parliamentary seat in 2022, defeating Jubilee Party’s Gabriel Kago.
Wamuchomba was declared the winner after receiving 34,646 votes, while Kago secured 31,127 votes. This win marked yet another historic milestone, as she became the first woman to be elected as Githunguri’s MP.
"I've broken the curse, and Githunguri will be led by a woman for the first time," she said after her victory.
Her political success is often attributed to her willingness to listen to her constituents and her fearless approach to addressing issues.
This resolve was especially evident during the 2024 Finance Bill debate when she voted against the Bill, defying her party’s directive. Wamuchomba maintained that her constituents had instructed her to oppose the Bill.
Her solidarity with Kenyan youth protesting against the Bill earned her widespread admiration, though it also led to calls from some leaders for her to face disciplinary action for defying the party's position.
As the country looks ahead to the 2027 general election, all eyes are on Wamuchomba’s next political moves, particularly since she aligned with the camp of former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua.
