Anne Waiguru: Ruto will win 2027 election without Mt Kenya's support

 

When Kirinyaga Governor Anne Waiguru was officially received to UDA by President William Ruto at the Karen Residence in Nairobi. [File, Standard]

Kirinyaga Governor Anne Waiguru now says President William Ruto stands a chance of winning the 2027 election without full support of the Mt Kenya region.

While expressing confidence that Ruto will secure a second term, Waiguru said her political calculations show that Ruto remains the strongest candidate, despite growing indications that parts of the vote-rich region could align themselves with the opposition.

Speaking in Nakuru during a women’s event organised by Bahati MP Irene Njoki, the governor dismissed the notion that losing support in Mt Kenya would automatically spell defeat for Ruto.

Waiguru argued that Ruto could rely on his national political networks, the strength of his parliamentary support and divisions within the opposition to secure another five-year term.

“Having done my analysis, I can guarantee you that Ruto will be re-elected in 2027,” Waiguru said.

She acknowledged Ruto might not be perfect but urged voters to assess leaders based on their record rather than focusing exclusively on their shortcomings.

“He might not be a perfect person, but there is no one perfect. You choose a leader, and if you are looking for mistakes, you will find them,” she said.

Waiguru defended Ruto’s political record, recalling his decision to support retired President Uhuru Kenyatta during the 2013 and 2017 General Elections.

She said Ruto stood by Uhuru despite political differences, arguing that such loyalty should be remembered as the country approaches another election.

In 2013, Ruto backed Uhuru’s presidential bid under the Jubilee alliance, despite having previously worked with the late Raila Odinga in the Orange Democratic Movement.

Waiguru spoke in Nakuru during a women’s event organised by Bahati MP Irene Njoki. [Joseph Kipsang, Standard]

She said Ruto again supported Uhuru’s re-election in 2017, maintaining that the President had honoured his political commitments.

“Though they had differences, he chose to stay and support Uhuru and campaigned for him,” she said.

Waiguru said she believed political loyalty should be reciprocated, warning Mt Kenya leaders against abandoning the government without carefully weighing the consequences.

“Good deeds are paid with good. I don't gamble, and you will never find me in the opposition,” she said.

The governor maintained that the region should not isolate itself politically by aligning exclusively with opposition leaders, arguing that its interests would be better served by remaining engaged with the national government.

She said the community should remember the political understanding that preceded the 2022 elections, when Kenyatta had backed Ruto’s ambition to become President.

“Let us be careful. I am in government because I do not want to be branded among those who cannot keep their word,” she said.

Waiguru’s remarks come amid shifting political alliances ahead of the 2027 elections, with sections of Mt Kenya increasingly questioning their continued support for Ruto following changes in the region’s political leadership.

She argued that even if the opposition secured support from several Mt Kenya counties, the outcome would not necessarily determine the presidential race.

According to Waiguru, voting patterns in the region vary, with some counties more firmly aligned with Mt Kenya politics than others.

She cited Nyandarua, Nyeri, Murang’a and Kirinyaga as counties where Kikuyu voters have a strong presence.

She also pointed to Laikipia and Nakuru as counties where a significant proportion of residents do not necessarily vote in line with the political positions taken by leaders from the traditional Mt Kenya strongholds.

Waiguru estimated that about 40 per cent of voters in Nakuru and Laikipia did not follow the same political direction as voters in the core Mt Kenya counties.

She said the President’s 2022 support base extended beyond the region, citing the number of MPs who backed him at the time.

Waiguru argued that even if support from some of those parliamentary blocs shifted, Ruto would still have a substantial political base from which to mount his re-election campaign.

She also pointed to the opposition's apparent difficulty in settling on a single presidential candidate, saying the presence of several potential contenders could weaken its chances.

“The opposition already has six candidates, and they may fail to agree on a single candidate. Ruto remains the most popular,” she said.

Waiguru further argued that Mt Kenya might not produce a presidential candidate capable of consolidating the region's vote, adding that voter turnout could also influence the outcome.

“Mt Kenya will not have a candidate. Tell me which Kikuyu will wake up in the morning to go and vote? We know ourselves; our voting patterns are known. When there is no major crisis, they will not turn out to vote,” she said.

She also predicted that some MPs elected on opposition tickets could eventually cross over to the government side, further strengthening Ruto's political position.

The governor urged Mt Kenya residents to maintain ties with other communities and avoid political isolation, saying the region should prioritise representation and government access.

She argued that disagreements with the President should be addressed through dialogue rather than by abandoning the government altogether.

“Politics is about representation. It will not be good to be represented by those in the opposition. If there is an issue, then the problem should be addressed instead of demolishing everything,” she said.

Waiguru also used the occasion to seek support for her ambition to become Deputy President, calling for greater representation of women in the country's top leadership positions.

She urged residents to support women seeking senior political offices, saying their inclusion would strengthen representation in government.

Njoki, who hosted the event, called on Bahati residents to back her bid for a second term as MP, saying her development record spoke for itself.

The legislator reaffirmed her support for Ruto, declaring that she and her office would remain firmly within the government camp as the country prepares for the next election.

“We are in government and are not going anywhere. Together with my office, next year we shall have free secondary education in Bahati,” Njoki said.