Kirinyaga Governor Anne Waiguru can rest easy after bitter rival and former woman representative Wangui Ngirici withdrew election petition against her.
Wangui vying as an independent candidate was the closest challenger of Waiguri who successfully defended her seat.
She alleged that the win of Waiguru was as a result of rigged gubernatorial election where votes were stuffed in her (Waiguru) favour.
Today, Wangui said after serious soul searching and wide consultation with my supporters and UDA and Kenya Kwanza leadership she had taken the bold step to withdraw the petition.
She said she decided to withdraw the petition for the interest of the Kirinyaga people even though she had a strong case.
“I have gone against strong tides of pressure to press on with the court battle, resolved to withdraw the Petition challenging Governor Waiguru’s victory, not because we didn’t have facts nor pregnant grounds to see the petition to the end but to allow the people of Kirinyaga to enjoy uninterrupted services,” she said.
Below is the rest of the statement.
“I wish to grant the Governor the full benefit, space and enough legroom to,without any excuse nor interruptions discharge her duties to our people as the County Head and, as the Chair of the Council of Governors.
Delivering to the people of Kirinyaga is more important to me than political victory.
It isn’t and has never been a matter of life and death.
To me,the people will always come first.
There is still a next time,my people.
And a next time to win.
I therefore appeal to the Governor to tirelessly and devotedly work to deliver the delayed benefits of devolution to our people.
I beseech her to see beyond her self and sacrifice everything to ensure that our people benefit and busk under the shade of the glorious tree of Devolution and accelerated development.
I have therefore chosen to support her in whichever way and to consult from time to time on how to best help and deliver to our people.
This does not however mean that I won’t criticize when necessary or call out complacency and mistakes when and if they occur.
I will be the watchful eye of the Kirinyaga people for the next five years.
I will share every good idea with her and condemn every retrogressive step taken by her regime.
I thereby, very proudly, announce that am withdrawing the Court Petition with immediate effect.
I will therefore and consequently issue instructions to my able Lawyers accordingly.
I owe immense gratitude to all my supporters in Kirinyaga and elsewhere across the globe.
We live to fight another day and win big time.
Winning is sometimes taking bold and unpopular steps even when they aren’t necessarily convenient to you.
I wish Governor Ann Waiguru all the best and good health too as she executes her mandate as Governor of my beloved County for the next four and a half years or so.
May God bless Kirinyaga and the Great people of Kenya.
Let’s all endeavour to make Kirinyaga and Kenya smile again.
Ahsanteni.”