Kirinyaga Governor Anne Waiguru has ruled out joining Rigathi Gachagua’s political camp, ending weeks of silence with a declaration that she remains firmly behind President William Ruto.
Waiguru said she had intentionally stepped back from public political discussions for six weeks and had no plans to join a group where, in her view, leaders are denied an opportunity to speak. She also dismissed calls to engage with those attacking her, saying her priority was serving the people of Kirinyaga.
“I have talked less. You have been telling me to go where people are being chased and denied microphones. I will not join Wamunyoro, I have been keeping quiet for six weeks. I will not join there,” she said.
The governor made the remarks on Thursday while hosting First Lady Rachel Ruto during a women’s empowerment event at Kamiigua Polytechnic grounds in Kirinyaga County.
Her comments appeared to touch on an incident involving former Kirinyaga Woman Representative Purity Wangui Ngirici, who was denied a microphone during a visit to the county by Gachagua.
Waiguru has remained largely out of the public eye since the government lost the Ol Kalou by-election. During the event, she asked residents whether they had missed her, receiving an enthusiastic response from the crowd.
She explained that her absence from political debates was deliberate, saying she preferred to concentrate on delivering services to Kirinyaga residents instead of spending her time responding to political commentary or appearing regularly in the media.
On her political allegiance, Waiguru said she had not shifted from the position she held during the administration of former President Uhuru Kenyatta.
“Uhuru said he will rule for 10 years and Ruto will rule for 10 years. I'm still where Uhuru left me,” she said.
Waiguru also questioned the ability of opposition leaders to settle on one presidential candidate ahead of the 2027 General Election.
“There were six presidential candidates in the opposition and now there are seven. I told you they will be over 10 presidential candidates and they will not be able to agree on who to pick,” she said.
Her remarks came in the presence of Kirinyaga Central MP Gachoki Gitari, MCAs led by County Assembly Speaker Muteti Murimi, Health Principal Secretary Mary Muthoni Muriuki and Gender Principal Secretary Anne Wang'ombe.
Gitari used the gathering to raise the issue of government projects in the area, asking the national government to honour its promise to establish a Kenya Medical Training College (KMTC) campus in Kianyaga, Gichugu.
He said the planned KMTC campus in Kerugoya was close to completion but called for progress on the Kianyaga facility as well.
The MP also made a direct appeal to First Lady Rachel Ruto over the 2027 succession politics, asking her to persuade President Ruto to consider Waiguru for the running mate position.
“First Lady, go and tell the President that because of gender, pick Waiguru as running mate in 2027,” he said.
The call appeared to depart from Gitari’s earlier support for Deputy President Kithure Kindiki’s expected bid to become Ruto’s running mate in the next election.
Rachel, in her remarks, encouraged women’s groups to remain focused on improving their families’ livelihoods and taking advantage of opportunities available to them.
Health PS Mary Muthoni Muriuki highlighted the burden of cancer and HIV among mothers and shared a personal experience, saying she had lost both her mother and sister to cancer. She urged women to undergo regular medical check-ups.
Gender PS Anne Wang'ombe said the ministry would continue supporting programmes designed to empower women.