By Kepher Otieno - Reporter
Kenya, 6 May 2026 - Kirinyaga Governor Anne Waiguru has sharpened her political messaging, urging Mt Kenya residents to remain firmly aligned with President William Ruto while dismissing both opposition figures and emerging internal critics as lacking credibility and direction.
Speaking in Kutus on Wednesday, she framed politics not as a matter of sentiment but of strategic interest, arguing that Kirinyaga’s development record reflects the benefits of backing the current administration.
She cautioned residents against “misleading political voices,” insisting that leadership must deliver tangible results rather than rhetoric, and maintained that those now in opposition have neither the structure nor vision to mount a serious challenge in 2027.
In a pointed escalation, Waiguru cast doubt on the consistency of her rivals, singling out former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua as emblematic of shifting political loyalties, accusing him of previously criticizing Uhuru Kenyatta only to now position himself as his defender.
She suggested such shifts reveal political expediency rather than conviction, reinforcing her broader claim that interests—not loyalty or ideology—drive Kenya’s political alignments.
At the same time, she argued that even some of the loudest government critics had once sought inclusion in the very system they now oppose, portraying the opposition as opportunistic rather than principled.
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Turning to the 2027 general election, Waiguru framed the contest as a defining moment for Mt Kenya’s political identity, declaring it a test of whether the region honours its commitments.
She argued that President Ruto’s decade-long support for Uhuru Kenyatta obliges the region to reciprocate, warning that failure to do so would damage its credibility and weaken its bargaining power in future political cycles, particularly in 2032.
Emphasising unity and consistency as the region’s traditional strengths, she positioned continued support for Ruto not just as a political choice but as a strategic necessity, reinforcing an emerging narrative that loyalty today will determine influence tomorrow.