Kirinyaga Governor Anne Waiguru has defended her close ties with President William Ruto, arguing that working with the national government is the only practical way to deliver major projects to her county.
Speaking in Wang’uru town on Sunday during the launch of the Mwea Integrated Water Supply Rehabilitation and Expansion Project, Waiguru said leaders should spend less time on political battles and more time delivering services.
“There is no governor who can fully develop a county without support from the national government,” she told residents gathered at the event. “I have decided to be strategic in what I am doing and staying in government so that I can get more resources and support to achieve the county’s development agenda.”
The remarks come at a time when political alliances in the Mt Kenya region are under growing scrutiny ahead of the next election cycle. Several leaders from the region have faced pressure to either stand firmly with the president or distance themselves from his administration as economic frustrations continue to shape public debate.
Waiguru, now serving her second term as governor, made it clear she has no intention of stepping away from the president.
“I will hold onto President Ruto without fear or shame,” she said. “Politics is about interests, and Ruto has our interests as people from Mt Kenya.”
Her comments were delivered during an inspection of the Wang’uru market site and the launch of the water rehabilitation project in Mutithi Ward, both initiatives the county government says are aimed at improving access to services and boosting local trade.
The governor also took aim at opposition politicians, accusing them of focusing on rhetoric instead of results.
“I always avoid continuous politicking without any work,” she said. “I believe in working for the people first, and then the people will decide based on the work the leader has done.”
Waiguru argued that cooperation with the national government had previously helped Kirinyaga secure infrastructure projects during the administration of former President Uhuru Kenyatta.
“I was in Uhuru’s government, and that is how I brought him here,” she said. “He saw muddy roads, and he had them tarmacked.”
She said maintaining close ties with the current administration would help ensure the county continues to receive funding for roads, hospitals and modern markets.
Still, her stance reflects a wider debate playing out across Kenya over whether political loyalty should determine access to development. Critics of the government have long argued that public projects should be distributed fairly, regardless of political affiliation.
Waiguru did not directly address those concerns but urged residents not to be swayed by what she described as “empty promises” from rivals.
“We should not destroy our progress because of empty promises,” she said. “Continuity is important if government programmes are to be completed.”
Even so, the governor called for calmer political engagement, urging leaders to focus on issues rather than personal attacks.
For many residents in Kirinyaga, the immediate concern may be less about political alliances and more about whether promised projects especially water, roads and markets are completed and felt in everyday life.
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