Kirinyaga Governor Anne Waiguru during the launch of the Sh200 million Mwea Integrated Water Supply Rehabilitation and Expansion Project at Kandongu, Kirinyaga county, on May 11, 2026./HANDOUT
Kirinyaga Governor Anne Waiguru has apologised on behalf
of Mt Kenya region over the removal of former Deputy President
Rigathi Gachagua, saying it was a
mistake.
Speaking on
Monday, Waiguru acknowledged the political and emotional toll that Gachagua’s impeachment has had on the region and its relationship with the
Ruto administration.
“I understand
your pain… I am truly sorry,” Waiguru said during the launch of the Sh200
million Mwea integrated water supply rehabilitation and expansion project in
Kandongu, Kirinyaga county.
Governor
Waiguru said she acknowledges and understands why Kirinyaga residents, whom she
was addressing, feel they are not part of the government, noting they were hurt
by what transpired.
She, however,
distanced herself from the process, insisting the proceedings happened in
Parliament while she was at the grassroots.
“But that pain
or anger should not make us
separate ourselves from other communities and end up in problems 20 years from
now. Because there is what I know can be gotten from the government.
“You can be
jumping up and down saying what you are saying, but removing a government from
power is not easy. They tried with (President
Mwai) Kibaki and failed, and he was even sworn in at night,” she said.
Her remarks
reflect an acknowledgment of the growing unease among UDA leaders in Mt Kenya,
where the political ground has shifted significantly since Gachagua’s
impeachment.
Once a solid
pillar of the Kenya Kwanza coalition, the region has shifted its allegiance,
with resentment toward the government hardening into a broader political
protest sustained by Gachagua.
Still, Waiguru
urged the region to rally behind the government to benefit from development.
“Do you accept
to support this government? It is not a love affair. It is about interests.
Let’s pay our debt and finish,” she said.
Her speech
came after charged remarks by MCAs and county assembly leaders, who were openly
divided at the meeting, with some declaring their support for Gachagua.
Her remarks
also come just about a month after she declared that she does not have
“any problem with Gachagua”.
Speaking in
Kirinyaga in April, Waiguru said “even if things went the way they
did”—alluding to the impeachment—she was among the first DP aspirants to drop
her ambitions in his favour in 2022.
“I don’t want
people to assume I have a problem with someone because I speak about them. I
don’t have any personal problems with Rigathi Gachagua.”
Waiguru’s
apology, though framed as an act of collective leadership responsibility, is
widely seen as an admission of the political damage caused by Gachagua’s
removal to UDA’s popularity in the region.
She has also
toned down her attacks on the Democracy for
Citizens Party leader, who had
previously lashed out at her, accusing the Kirinyaga governor of betrayal.
By distancing
herself from the decision—while still taking responsibility for its consequences—she
highlighted the difficult balancing act facing UDA-aligned leaders seeking to
retain relevance in a region that feels betrayed.
The move also
comes at a time when DCP is sustaining
pressure on UDA, consolidating support across the region.
His messaging
has resonated, particularly among grassroots supporters who feel sidelined by
the current administration.
Waiguru
appeared to acknowledge this shifting tide, noting that defending the
government has become increasingly difficult.
Her remarks
also come against the backdrop of recent realignments in the region, with her
Murang’a and Kiambu counterparts declaring they will not defend their seats on
the UDA ticket.
At the same
time, Waiguru’s 2022 rival, Purity Ngirici, has also decamped from the
government side, further signalling a broader political realignment in Mt
Kenya.