Kirinyaga Governor Anne Waiguru says winning a presidential election against President William Ruto will not be a “walk in the park,” for the opposition because it lacks a strategy.
Waiguru cautioned residents of Mt Kenya against assuming that crowds at opposition rallies would translate into votes.
She said the opposition will disintegrate once it names a presidential candidate to face President Ruto on the ballot because its leaders have no agenda for the country.
Speaking at a Sagana hotel during a meeting with rice farmers and local leaders, she said a presidential candidate must secure at least 25 per cent of the vote in 25 counties, which makes national alliances essential.
She pointed to recent President’s tour of Nyanza, Coast and Rift Valley among other places as evedence of the need to build support beyond one’s home region saying Ruto enjoys support in 35 of the country’s 47 counties.
“You don’t need to be a scientist to know the opposition will not unite,” she said, noting that the opposition has seven presidential candidates for are yet to agree on a flagbearer.
She urged voters in Mt. Kenya to reject politics of emotions, populism and propaganda adding that the region will not field a presidential candidate in 2027.
“We cannot leave government for opposition. For us to go where we want, we must plan. One day I would like to be President of Kenya, it may look easy but it is not, 2027 is not the time,” she said.
Waiguru also claimed that Ruto has the backing of more than 150 Members of Parliament, which she said showed that political ambition must be supported by a strong national network. She recalled that Ruto had stood with former President Uhuru Kenyatta’s administration despite its shortcomings, and urged Mt Kenya residents to acknowledge the contributions of the current administration to the region.
The Governor further urged rice farmers to back President William Ruto’s re-election in 2027 to protect the gains made in the sector.
She said rice farmers had reaped lot of gains from President Ruto’s administration and should reciprocate by re-election him for a second term in office.
“I support President William Ruto and we must honour our past political commitments,” she said. “Let us remember just one good deed that Ruto has done for this country and give him a second term.”
