Anne Waiganjo kicks up dust with ‘Raila controls half of Kenya’ remark

Kirinyaga Governor Anne Mumbi-Waiganjo says Kenya is not ready for another Kikuyu or Kalenjin executive leader in 2022.

Speaking in Nyeri on Friday, August 16, the county chief said she supports a push to have the executive positions increased in a bid to accommodate top leaders from different communities in Kenya.

Mrs Waiganjo says the expansion of the executive will help absorb disgruntled top leaders, who, maybe, won’t ascend to positions of absolute power such as the presidency.

“Kenyans have said that they would want other tribes involved in terms of the leadership of this country. As a Mt. Kenya leader, I know that we have very many votes and we would also like to be participating in this leadership,” Anne Waiganjo said shortly after attending the funeral of a Kirinyaga County Government staff.

“The most sensible thing to do in order to ensure that there is national cohesion and representation of different regions at the helm of this country, is expansion of the Executive.

“Expansion of the Executive requires another three seats; those are very few seats because we are going to be reducing all the other elective seats. We have 290 constituencies, but we have over 400 MPs. So, we will be in the overall reduction. We will not be negated by the increase of the three seats. Instead, it will give us cohesion and peace in this country.

“We are urging Mt. Kenya leaders to start thinking about it because we have woken up in 2019. I do not see this country accepting another rule of only a Kalenjin and a Kikuyu. We, therefore, must start thinking about how we accommodate our other brothers and sisters in Kenya. That is why I have said I welcome Raila Odinga to Mt. Kenya region,” said Anne Waiganjo.

This comes just two days after the governor said should Raila run and clinch the presidency in 2022, Mt. Kenya leaders would “want a piece of his government”.

“If it is Raila, he should know that the region will want a piece of his government,” Anne Waiganjo said in an interview on KTN News’ PointBlank last Wednesday.

And, now the governor says she is not oblivious to the fact that the ODM leader commands an admirable following across Kenya.

“We all understand that Raila controls half this country, and anyone who imagines that you can actually lead this country without his input or his supporters’ input, I think we would be denying a fact. So, what we have said is we need to be realistic,” said Anne Waiganjo.

The governor’s remarks were opposed by Laikipia Woman Rep, Catherine Waruguru, who said Anne Waiganjo cannot purport to be speaking on behalf of Mt. Kenya.

Ms Waruguru is a staunch DP William Ruto rooter in Central region.

“Only President Kenyatta can tell us where Mt. Kenya support will be directed in 2022,” said Ms Waruguru at a function in Kirinyaga County on Friday, August 16.

“Those who got married recently after being promised the deputy president seat, should take a back seat and learn from history,” said Ms Waruguru.