Kirinyaga Governor Anne Waiguru has stepped up her bid for the Deputy President position in next year’s general election, rallying support from women’s groups in Murang’a County while strongly defending President William Ruto’s administration.
Speaking in Mathioya constituency during a women empowerment programme that brought together more than 2,000 members from 110 groups, Waiguru positioned herself as both a political leader and a member of the local community by marriage.
She said her connection to the area made it necessary for her to support residents just as she does in Kirinyaga.
“This is my home. If I give sikukuu to people in Kirinyaga, I should also give something to Mathioya people. When I am here, I am no longer a governor. I am just a wife visiting my parents, and you can't visit your parents empty-handed,” Waiguru said.
During the event at Rurii Stadium, each women’s group received between Sh30,000 and Sh50,000 depending on size and activities, while thousands of residents also benefited from foodstuff donations ahead of Easter celebrations.
Waiguru said she consulted Murang’a Governor Irungu Kang'ata and President William Ruto before organising the meeting, underscoring the significance of the engagement in her broader political strategy.
She emphasised the central role women play in leadership, noting that no leader can succeed without their backing.
The governor used the platform to reaffirm her support for the Kenya Kwanza administration despite recent political tensions in the Mt Kenya region.
She argued that the government has delivered substantial development and ensured the region remains firmly within the national decision-making structure.
Waiguru cited the appointment of several Cabinet Secretaries and Principal Secretaries from the region as evidence of strong representation, adding that such positions remain key to protecting regional interests.
She cautioned Mt Kenya residents against shifting political allegiance, warning that aligning with the opposition could marginalise the region.
“It’s not easy to remove a sitting President in power, and I fear this region could plunge itself into political cold if we are not careful,” she said.
Waiguru maintained that Mt Kenya’s interests are best protected within the current administration, arguing that the region played a decisive role in the 2022 election and should continue to “own” the government.
Defending President Ruto’s development record, she highlighted progress in infrastructure projects such as the Rironi–Mau Summit Road and the Mau Mau roads programme, which she said had significantly advanced in recent years.
In agriculture, she cited ongoing reforms in the coffee sector, noting improved marketing channels and better earnings for farmers.
Local leaders at the event endorsed her bid for the Deputy President position, praising her development track record and calling for greater female representation in top leadership.
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Politics