A storm is brewing at the intersection of politics and public appointments after the National Treasury moved to remove Purity Wangui Ngirici as chairperson of the Kenya Seed Company (KSC) board, a day after the former Kirinyaga Woman Rep severed ties with the ruling United Democratic Movement (UDA), in a development that sharpens the stakes of emerging 2027 political realignments.
In a letter dated 30 April 2026, National Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi directed the immediate removal of Ngirici as both director and board chair of KSC.
The directive, addressed to Kenya Seed Company Managing Director Sammy Chepsiror, invoked provisions in the company’s Articles of Association governing the appointment and removal of directors.
“Article 97 of the establishing instrument provides the procedure for removal of a Director, while Article 98 empowers the Company or sponsor to replace and/or remove a Director,” the letter states.
“In line with the above provisions in the Articles of Association, you are hereby advised to process the immediate removal of Ms Purity Wangui Ngirici as Director and Chairman of the Board,” the Treasury CS added.
The directive comes a day after Ngirici publicly aligned herself with the Opposition-leaning “One Term” movement and declared her intention to contest the Kirinyaga gubernatorial seat in 2027 on an Opposition ticket – marking a decisive break from her past association with President William Ruto’s Kenya Kwanza camp.
Speaking at Kanjai in Ndia Constituency, Kirinyaga County, Ngirici signaled a populist shift in her political calculus.
“This time round I have decided to listen to the people of Kirinyaga. I will be where they want me to be,” she said, drawing loud chants of “One Term” from supporters.
She embraced the slogan – now a rallying call among Opposition figures seeking to unseat the current administration after a single term – leading a spirited exchange: “Harambee!” to which the crowd responded “One Term,” before affirming, “Hata mimi nimesema hiyo ‘One Term’.”
Ngirici said she will soon unveil the specific Opposition party under which she will mount her gubernatorial bid.
“I will come here again and announce to you the party I will be vying on, but that party will be one among the Opposition outfit,” she said.
Her removal from the KSC board now adds a dramatic twist to her political re-entry, raising questions over whether the move is administrative housekeeping or part of a broader political fallout tied to shifting loyalties.
Ngirici, a former Kirinyaga Woman Representative and past chair of the Kenya Women Parliamentary Association (KEWOPA), has been steadily repositioning herself after narrowly losing the 2022 gubernatorial race to incumbent Anne Waiguru.
She garnered 105,677 votes against Waiguru’s 113,088 in a tightly contested race that cemented her as a formidable political force in the county.
In her latest remarks, Ngirici struck a defiant tone, insisting Kirinyaga voters will not be swayed by external political pressure.
“Kirinyaga residents will not be sold out politically. They will elect leaders of their choice,” she said.
She also warned against rising political intolerance and the use of hired disruptors during campaigns.
“There are people who will come asking for your votes backed by others. Some individuals are paid to shout down leaders, but those noises will not translate into votes,” she cautioned.
“Those who are paid to become goons should not allow themselves to be manipulated by politicians. We want peaceful campaigns here in Kirinyaga.”
Her ouster and political pivot come amid a broader wave of recalibration across the country, as leaders test new alliances, abandon old ones, and reposition ahead of what is shaping up to be a fiercely contested 2027 General Election.
