Baptism by fire” is how former Laikipia Woman Rep Cate Waruguru describes her early life and entry into politics.“The difference between a good life and a bad life is how well you walk through the fire”, said Carl Jung, famed Swiss psychiatrist.
In the same way, the strongest steel has been through intense fire, so have the strongest people been through adversity. Enter Cate Waruguru. Waruguru has been vocal when advocating and championing the rights of Women and promoting social justice.Cate Waruguru was born in 1987. She became an orphan after losing her mother to a short illness.
Young Cate Waruguru would then be raised by her grandmother in a humble beginning as she describes it. She has a brother, Mbuthia who has been a pillar and support system throughout her life. She endured the challenges in her childhood and eventually sat her Kenya Certificate of Primary Education (KCPE) exams in Laikipia County but later had issues with joining high school.The late Nderitu Gachagua, a Member of Parliament at that time sponsored her Secondary Education.
In 2011-2013 she joined the Kenya Institute of Management, and she graduated with a Diploma in Management. She is widely known for her outspoken nature and the controversies surrounding her personal life.Before marrying her current husband, Peter Waweru, Waruguru was married to William Kiprotich Kigen, a well-known lawyer from the Rift Valley region.
Kigen, a Nanyuki-based lawyer, hails from Kericho County. He attended Kabianga High School before pursuing higher education at the University of Nairobi and later the University of Mangalore.
Despite being a public figure, Waruguru’s first husband has largely stayed out of the limelight, with only limited details available about him.
Waruguru made headlines in 2017 when she publicly acknowledged being a second wife to Kigen, a position she embraced unapologetically. She expressed that being in this role did not diminish her, asserting that she made the choice for herself and had no regrets.
Her candid stance sparked debates in Kenya, with Waruguru famously stating, “I would like anybody to challenge me and tell me whether I am cast out because I am married as the second wife.”Her first marriage, however, was not without its controversies. In one notable incident, Waruguru and her then-husband were denied service at a hotel in Kericho after being asked to produce a marriage certificate.
This publicized confrontation added to the list of controversies surrounding her personal life.
Waruguru has since moved on and is currently married to Peter Waweru. She remains a bold and influential figure in Kenyan politics, consistently standing by her life choices despite the public attention.
By Nairobinews