The Mountain Journal
Kirinyaga Governor Anne Waiguru has asked Mt Kenya residents not abandon
government for the opposition, cautioning that the region risks isolating itself politically.
Speaking after officially opening Kavote dispensary in Karumandi Ward, Governor
Waiguru said an analysis of voting patterns across Mt. Kenya showed the region stood
to lose significantly should it turn its back on government.
“To the people of Mt Kenya, don’t put yourself into a hole. As things stand, you are
heading into a hole,” said the Governor. “We have carefully analysed the votes and the
voting patterns in this region, and the numbers do not lie.”
The Governor reminded residents that the late former Premier Raila Odinga had sought
the presidency five times without success because it is not possible to dislodge a sitting
President.
She warned that six counties from Mt Kenya risked straying from government if the
region ignored her advice and threw its weight behind the opposition.
“The opposition still has no candidate. In fact, they have several people who want to be
candidates, but they cannot agree on a single flagbearer,” she said, adding that outfits
such as Linda Mwananchi were themselves grappling with internal wrangles that
needed to be resolved first.
“How do you leave a government for an opposition that cannot even agree on who will
lead it? The opposition will take us from government, and Mt Kenya must think carefully
because we risk being out of next government,” she added.
The Governor noted that having been impeached as Deputy President, DCP leader
Rigathi Gachagua would not be vying for the presidency and therefore Mt Kenya will not
field a presidential candidate.
“Mt Kenya region will not put all its eggs in one basket,” she said, calling on residents to
set politics aside from personal relationships. “Let us not fight because of politics.
Politics is politics — it should not divide us.”
Governor Waiguru appealed to the residents to put their emotions aside and make their
political choices based on track record on those eyeing elective posts.
“I have heard you, I know the bitterness you carry, but let us not put ourselves into a
hole. Let us stop the emotions. There is a reason people want to be in government — it
is where decisions that affect your lives are made. As we head into 2027, let us vote for
leaders on the basis of their track record,” Waiguru added.
Waiguru said she had the best interests of Mt Kenya at heart and had personally sat
down to interrogate the region’s political options.
“Save for an act of God, President Ruto will be back for a second term,” she said. “I
want to ask you, as Mt Kenya, do not remove yourself from government.”
She further asked resident of Kirinyaga to reject political violence in the wake of chaos
that were witnessed in Embu, during Deputy President Kithure Kindiki event last week.
“We want peace in Kirinyaga, and I want to thank you for conducting yourselves
peacefully. I have refused politics of violence — violence has no place in modern
Kenya,” she added.
The Governor appealed for unity across Mt. Kenya insisting that the region will not be
divided into East and West.
