Kirinyaga governor Anne Waiguru has defected to Deputy President William Ruto’s United Democratic Alliance (UDA) at a time when a new truce by Internal PS Karanja Kibicho and County MP Wangui Ngirici appears to flourish.
Wangui and Kibicho – formerly two bitter rivals have been holding joint meetings in Kirinyaga County dubbed “Kirinyaga Kwanza” where they have been addressing thousands of residents.
Even though the two have said the meetings have nothing to do with politics but aimed at preparing the ground for a successful Mashujaa Day national celebrations to be presided over by President Uhuru Kenyatta in Mwea, there have been deep political overtones with residents urging Kibicho to go the Senatorial seat and Wangui for the gubernatorial one.
Former Gichugu MP and Narc Kenya leader Martha Karua’s political star has been rising especially after she was named the spokesperson of a group allied to Ruto that has been pushing for Mt Kenya unity.
Karua has declared that she would be making a second stub at the Kirinyaga gubernatorial race and political pundits say she has been receiving good ratings.
It is against this background that Waiguru’s defection is being viewed as she has recently cut a lonely figure in the political scene.
Her defection to UDA where Wangui has been the leading light in Kirinyaga is bound to muddy the waters and throw a spanner into the works.
While announcing her defection, Waiguru said had decided to consult the Kirinyaga people on which political direction she should take – and they had asked her to join UDA.
On Wednesday while addressing residents in Mwea, she asked them which party they wanted her to seek re-election with and the group told her UDA.
She responded that she would follow their advice and asked them whether they would vote for her while in UDA and they said yes.
In the meantime, Wangui and Kibicho addressed thousands of residents at Gen Kassam Mugo stadium in Gichugu on Tuesday where their union seemed to grow from strength to strength.
Kibicho said he was a civil servant and that he had joined hands with Wangui so that Kirinyaga can get as many goodies as possible ahead of the Mashujaa Day celebrations.
Wangui announced that Ruto would be attending the event alongside the President and urged the people to accord all elected leaders respect.
