For the better part of last week, Water and Sanitation Cabinet Secretary Alice Wahome hit headlines over the saga surrounding the management of two crucial companies in her docket.
At the heart of Wahome’s rise to the media spotlight was the disquiet surrounding her alleged reluctance to suspend Athi Water Development Agency Chief Executive Officer Michael Thuita who was under investigations.
On Saturday, September 23, however, CS Wahome issued a statement to set the record straight over her alleged reluctance to suspend Thuita.
In the letter, CS Wahome asserted her commitment to upholding the rule of law in a tone reminiscent of her firm stance throughout her stint as a politician.
But just how did the lady referred to as “the new iron lady” in some quarters rise to Ruto’s cabinet.
Wahome, born in 1959, started her academic journey in Karumu Primary in Kandara Constituency, Murang’a County, before proceeding to Bishop Gatimu Ngandu Girls for her ‘A’ Levels.
Wahome in Legal Practice
In 1984, Wahome graduated with a bachelor’s degree in law and later bagged a post graduate diploma in law from the Kenya School of Law to set her career in motion.
During her early days in the legal field, Wahome worked as a state counsel in the Attorney General’s Chamber before proceeding to set up her own A.M. Wahome and Company Advocates.
Besides her legal practice, Wahome made her name in activism mainly through Fida Kenya.
Later, Wahome immersed herself into the elective politics arena, taking a stab at the Kandara parliamentary seat twice without success.
Wahome Wins Kandara Seat
In 2013, however, Wahome clinched the seat on The National Alliance (TNA) party to join the 11th parliament.
She served for five years under the then ruling coalition, Jubilee Alliance, which later transitioned to be the Jubilee Party ahead of the 2017 elections.
From her actions, her bravery was evident as was manifested in a particular incident when she was accused of roughing up an Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) officer.
But it was during her second term when the lawyer earned tremendous recognition on a national level.
In 2017, she successfully defended her seat on a Jubilee Party ticket.
Coming fresh from a triumph in the presidential election, Wahome and her Jubilee Party compatriots were perceived to be destined for a comfortable term in parliament under the patronage of former President Uhuru Kenyatta and the then deputy President William Ruto.
However, the 2018 handshake between Kenyatta and his longtime nemesis Raila Odinga changed the nation’s political environment.
Suddenly, Ruto became an onlooker in the government. What followed was a period of sustained onslaught from the pro-handshake faction targeting Ruto diehards and Wahome was among the MPs caught in the crossfire.
Wahome’s Team of Five
As part of the team comprising Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, Kiharu MP Ndindi Nyoro, Naivasha MP Jane Kihara, and Kikuyu MP Kimani Ichung’wah, Wahome became one of Ruto’s ardent defenders from Mount Kenya.
Through the front named “the Big Five”, Wahome and company took the lead in consolidating Ruto’s support in the vote-rich region.
Also Read: Alice Wahome Clears the Air as Storm in Her Ministry Rages on
She often was caught at loggerheads with President Kenyatta who was at the time resolute on strengthening his grip on the Mountain region.
By then, the group of pro-Ruto MPs named the “Tangatanga” faction faced sanctions from Jubilee Party luminaries and Wahome was no exception.
She however remained resolute opting to stick with Ruto despite the threats and sanctions.
In the run up to the 2022 polls, Alice was in the sprint away group of Jubilee Party members who joined the newly formed United Democratic Alliance party.
At the time, more leaders from the Mountain region had shown inclination towards Ruto’s faction, perharps with a foresight of the looming landslide victory in the elections.
She went on to defend her Kandara seat and was one of the ardent foot soldiers of President Ruto in Murang’a.
Cabinet Slot
When Ruto eventually triumphed in the 2022 presidential contest, Wahome’s name was among those fronted for cabinet slots.
Also Read: Alice Wahome Clears the Air as Storm in Her Ministry Rages on
By then, Wahome had already taken her oath as the Kandara MP to represent her constituents for a third term.
And sure enough, Ruto named her as the CS designate in the Water and Sanitation docket- prompting her resignation from parliament.
She joined the league of Interior CS Kithure Kindiki, Public Service CS Aisha Jumwa, and Agriculture CS Mithika Linturi as members of the former Tanga Tanga faction occupying high ranking positions.
