By Jerry Rawlings
Waiguru ditches Jubilee, Will She Win UDA Ticket?
Kirinyaga governor Anne Waiguru has hinted at leaving the ruling party Jubilee for William Ruto’s led party United Democratic Alliance UDA party ahead of next year’s general elections.
Speaking to Kirinyaga residents on Wednesday, September 22, at Thiba area, Mwea constituency, Kirinyaga County, Waiguru inquired from her supporters asking them which party they would wish her to defend her gubernatorial seat come next year’s general elections. Kirinyaga residents chanted UDA in response to Governor Anne Waiguru’s suggestion.
“Which political party do you want me to defend my seat with?” she asked the crowd.
The crowd shouted “UDA!” in response to her suggestion.
Waiguru further said that she will make her decision on joining United Democratic Alliance UDA based on Kirinyaga residents’ wishes. She went on and said that her competitor, Martha Karua whom she defeated in the 2017 general elections should quit politics.
Governor Anne Waiguru was accompanied by county assembly majority leader James Kamau Mwango and Thiba MCA Pius Njogu to inspect projects in the area.
Also Read: Waiguru’s Full Speech as She Dumps Jubilee for UDA.
Waiguru earlier stated that it would be hard for her to defend her gubernatorial seat if she vied for the same seat under the ruling party Jubilee.
“… The truth of the matter is at this point and time if elections were held today, that would be very difficult. That’s a fact. Unless something seriously changes and I’ve said that many times that Jubilee needs to seriously look internally and see how to revamp the party for it to be acceptable for the people of Mount Kenya… “She said during an interview at daybreak.
However, on September 4, Waiguru was summoned by Kenya’s anti-corruption watchdog, Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) over an alleged payment of Ksh52 million which was allocated by the County Assembly for a pending bill dating back to 2010.
Waiguru said that the summons was due to political motivation adding that it came following her comments on the fall of the Building Bridges Initiative (BBI) constitutional amendment Bill.
Governor Waiguru’s decision to join United Democratic Alliance (UDA) comes barely a month after the Court of Appeal threw out the BBI stating it was unconstitutional.
Waiguru has played a role in popularizing the Building Bridges Initiative BBI. The Constitutional reform recommendations were being championed by President Uhuru Kenyatta and the former Prime Minister Raila Odinga.
“Last time l said … “on BBI let me keep quiet a bit…” Immediately, I get EACC Summons complete with all the subtle threatening Inflexibilities… and media alerts on an alleged Payment of 52m (allocated by County Assembly-For a pending bill that was acquired in 2010, for Subdivision, allocation and cadastral mapping of Over 17,000 acres of South Ngariama Settlement Scheme) and which EACC knows it has not even been paid, it is just coincidence, witch-hunt, or The usual attempt to shape narratives for 2022 Succession politics?” Waiguru tweeted on September 4.
Waiguru’s decision to defend her gubernatorial seat under the United Democratic Alliance party ticket would be challenging because the Women Representative Purity Ngirici has also announced her interest in Kirinyaga gubernatorial seat through the UDA party ticket.
On September 8, Ngirici said she was happy to welcome Waiguru to UDA after the governor said she was open to working with the United Democratic Alliance UDA ahead of the 2022 General Elections.
