Waiguru Urges UDA Members to Turn Out for Kirinyaga Grassroots Elections

By : Mweru Mbugua 

Kirinyaga Governor Anne Waiguru has rallied members of the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) to participate in large numbers in the party’s grassroots elections scheduled for Saturday, saying the exercise will reaffirm Mt Kenya’s support for the government

Speaking during a briefing with UDA grassroots mobilisers, aspirants and election agents in Kirinyaga, Waiguru said the party was fully prepared to conduct a free, fair and transparent poll at the polling-station level across the county

She explained that winners at the polling-station level will form the delegates who will go on to elect constituency delegates, who will then choose UDA’s national delegates

Waiguru said the grassroots elections would also consolidate her leadership of the party in Kirinyaga and strengthen UDA’s position ahead of the 2027 General Election

She expressed confidence that candidates allied to her camp would dominate the polls, dismissing claims of party supremacy by rival factions

“We are ready. We have a clear command structure and a tallying centre to ensure the process is above board and that the results truly reflect the will of UDA members,” Waiguru said, urging party members to uphold unity and integrity during the exercise

Without naming individuals, the governor criticised some elected leaders who, she said, were laying claim to UDA leadership in the county despite her being the sitting governor elected on the party’s ticket in 2022

“I am the undisputed leader of UDA in this county,” she said, adding that the grassroots elections would clearly demonstrate who commands the party’s support in Kirinyaga

Waiguru framed the polls as a key step in consolidating UDA’s grip on the Mt Kenya region and securing President William Ruto’s re-election in 2027

She argued that continued participation in government was necessary to safeguard the region’s interests and pointed to ongoing national projects in Kirinyaga, including road construction and affordable housing

She also cited what she described as strong representation of Mt Kenya in the national government, noting that nine Cabinet Secretaries and more than 20 Principal Secretaries hail from the region

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“This relationship with government is not a love affair; it is about defending the interests of our people,” Waiguru said

The governor criticised the former Deputy President for campaigning against the government in the region without offering a clear alternative, warning that voting out the current administration in 2027 could lock Mt Kenya out of national leadership for decades

Her remarks were echoed by Kirinyaga Central MP Gachoki Gitari and County Assembly Speaker Muteti Murimi, both of whom pledged support for President Ruto and endorsed Waiguru as the legitimate UDA leader in the county

More than 20 Members of the County Assembly attended the meeting and vowed to rally behind Waiguru and President Ruto as the party prepares for the grassroots elections