Damaris Wambui Waiganjo

Damaris Wambui Waiganjo (born 1986) is a Kenyan politician who has contested the Kiambaa Constituency parliamentary seat and previously served as Deputy President of the Jomo Kenyatta University Students Association (JKUSA).

Early life and education

Waiganjo was born in 1986 in Kenya.

She studied at the Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT), where she was elected Deputy President of the Jomo Kenyatta University Students Association in February 2016. She defeated her only rival, Seif Obed, in the election.

Waiganjo graduated from JKUAT with a Bachelor of Commerce in Human Resource Management in 2018. Her name appears in the university's 32nd graduation ceremony materials among graduates of the Bachelor of Commerce–Human Resource Management programme.

In September 2026, Waiganjo graduated with a Master of Science in Public Policy and Management from the School of Finance and Management at SOAS University of London. The school's graduation ceremony was held on 10 September 2026 at Friends House in London.

2021 Kiambaa parliamentary by-election

Waiganjo became a candidate for the Jubilee Party nomination for the Kiambaa Constituency parliamentary by-election following the death of Member of Parliament Paul Koinange in March 2021.

She was among the aspirants seeking the Jubilee Party nomination. The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission listed Damaris Wambui Waiganjo among the Jubilee Party participants for the Kiambaa parliamentary by-election.

People Daily identified Waiganjo as a Liaison Director at the Kiambu County Government and reported that she was among the candidates seeking the Jubilee Party nomination.

Waiganjo lost the Jubilee Party nomination to Karanja Kariri Njama, who was subsequently selected as the party's candidate for the by-election. People Daily reported that Waiganjo briefly announced that she was moving to the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) after Jubilee selected Njama, but subsequently withdrew the announcement and said she would remain in Jubilee and support its candidate.

The by-election was held on 15 July 2021 and was won by UDA candidate John Njuguna Wanjiku, who received 21,773 votes. Jubilee candidate Karanja Kariri Njama received 21,263 votes.

After the result, Wanjiku thanked residents for electing him. He said: "In every contest there is a winner and a loser. We believed in God and did our best. I would like to thank the people of Kiambaa for having faith in me."

Political activity in late 2021

In December 2021, Waiganjo left the Jubilee Party and joined Chama Cha Kazi, a political party associated with Moses Kuria.

2022 general election

In April 2022, the Jubilee Party awarded Waiganjo its nomination certificate to contest the Kiambaa parliamentary seat in the 2022 Kenyan general election. The nomination came after Karanja Kariri Njama had also sought the Jubilee ticket.

The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission subsequently listed Waiganjo as the Jubilee Party candidate for Kiambaa Constituency. John Njuguna Wanjiku was listed as the United Democratic Alliance candidate, while Karanja Kariri Njama was also among the candidates, running as an independent.

The election was held in August 2022. Wanjiku was re-elected as Member of Parliament for Kiambaa Constituency with 41,239 votes. Karanja Kariri Njama received 15,097 votes, while Waiganjo received 8,424 votes.

Following the election, Waiganjo questioned aspects of the electoral process. The Star reported that she said some of her agents had not been allowed into polling stations and called for a recount of the votes.

Later political activity

Waiganjo remained involved in political activities after the 2022 general election. In May 2024, The Star identified her as a former Kiambaa parliamentary aspirant and reported her participation in a political meeting in Limuru III, Kiambu County.

Electoral history