The Mountain Journal
editor@themountainjournal.co.ke
Kirinyaga Governor Anne Mumbi Waiguru has embarked on a campaign to mobilize Kenyans, targeting women, to rally behind Kenya Kwanza Government’s development agenda and President William Ruto’s bid for a second term.
Waiguru addressing over 2,000 women drawn from across Kenya, said she will be making a personal sacrifice to traverse the country and rally Kenyans to support Ruto for a second term.
Waiguru asked Kenyans and especially Mt. Kenya region to reject opposition politics saying the region can’t afford to be out of government for five years. She said the opposition cannot win the 2027 elections because it lacks clear strategy and agenda to move the country forward.
The Governor said together with other like-minded leaders, they will rally the region to support the Kenya Kwanza government and President Ruto bid for a second term in office.
The Governor is viewed a front runner for a running mate position owing to her charismatic influence in Mt Kenya region, as the camp allied to former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua backed by former AG Justin Muturi among others are campaigning against the Kenya Kwanza Government.
She said her mission is to articulate the gains that come from unity and collective support for the government.
She said her campaign will also preach the value of working together while safeguarding the progress already made in women’s leadership.
Waiguru announced that she would also roll out massive mentoring program for women to take
up leadership roles in political, private, religious and civil society spaces. She stressed that
deliberate efforts were needed to protect and advance the gains women have made in leadership,
warning that complacency could reverse the progress made so far.
She said she was reviving a women’s leadership movement to ensure more women step forward
into political leadership, noting that unless women across the country rise up and claim space,
hard-won gains would be eroded. She emphasized that leadership should not be viewed as
competition within the home but as service at a higher level.
“We are mothers, sisters and wives, but when it comes to leadership, we are able to multitask,”
she said, citing her own journey as both a homemaker and a leader who has excelled in public
service.
Waiguru underscored the importance of gender balance in decision-making, saying that
experiences uniquely affecting women are best addressed when women are at the table.
Highlighting her development record, the governor said her work in Kirinyaga County speaks for
itself across every part of the county, adding that this track record should inspire confidence in
women’s leadership.
“I have heeded your call to go around the country and rally as many women as possible to
support our agenda, but I cannot do it alone,” Waiguru said. “I need people to walk ahead of me,
beside me and behind me so that together we can make this country great, with all women fully
involved.”
When urged by the women to consider a presidential bid, Waiguru said she had no doubt that one
day she would run for the presidency, but not in 2027. She said that when the time comes, she
would vie, but for now her focus is firmly on supporting President William Ruto to secure a
second term.
“We must align with the winning team. Tomorrow’s journey is planned today. I will be in
government, and I am never on the losing side,” she said, adding that she feels obligated to hold
the hands of many women to ensure their numbers do not decline in leadership positions. “The
time for women is now.”
At the same event, the Daughters of the Mountain (DOK) women caucus, comprising women
from Central, Rift Valley, Nairobi, Western, Nyanza, Eastern, North Eastern and Coast region,
endorsed Waiguru for a national leadership role. The caucus said her development track record
in Kirinyaga County and her earlier service in the National Government provided a strong
springboard for her rise to the highest offices in the land.
DOK National Chairperson Lydia Mathia said sustainable leadership requires mentorship and
“hand-holding,” describing Waiguru as a cut above the rest in mentoring women into leadership
and delivering exemplary leadership worth emulating.
She described Waiguru as a trailblazer who has overcome numerous challenges to position her
well to unite like-minded leaders and extend her skills to the national stage.
The caucus formally endorsed Waiguru as the most suitable leader to represent Kenyan women
at the highest level of leadership.
DOK Nyanza Chapter Coordinator Nerea Oketch praised Waiguru’s proven track record both in
the National Government and in Kirinyaga County, where she said the governor has delivered
massive development.
Risper Ntinyari from Igembe North said women must move beyond being mobilisers and
supporters to occupying decision-making positions. She noted that challenges such as gender-
based violence, teenage pregnancies and girls dropping out of school would be better addressed
with women at the helm of leadership.
The women called for the formation of a united women’s voting and leadership bloc to support
women seeking various leadership positions across the country.
“One message from us is that women can,” said Winnie Aura from Nairobi County. “If Waiguru
can do it in Kirinyaga, we need her to do it for the whole country. Our agenda is to eventually
take her to State House.” She urged women across the country to ensure they are registered as
voters to actualize that vision.Kirinyaga County’s only elected woman Member of the County Assembly, Caroline Wanjiku
Muriithi, described Waiguru as a great mentor who has outperformed her peers. She said the
governor has demonstrated the capacity to deliver even more if elevated to the next level of
leadership
