ANNE WAIGURU
| NAME | ANNE WAIGURU |
| AGE | 54 YEARS |
| GENDER | FEMALE |
| OCCUPATION | POLITICIAN |
Anne Waiguru Mumbi is a prominent Kenyan politician currently serving as the Governor of Kirinyaga County under the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) party.
Early life and education
Anne Mumbi Waiguru was born on April 16, 1971, in Pumwani, Nairobi, with family roots traceable to Kirinyaga County.
She began her formal education at Nairobi River Primary School, after which she pursued her O-Level studies at Precious Blood Girls’ Secondary School, Riruta, and completed them in 1987.
She went on to attend Moi Forces Academy in Nairobi for her A-Level education, where she focused on mathematics, physics, and chemistry, and graduated in 1989.
Waiguru furthered her studies at Egerton University, where she earned a Bachelor’s degree in Agriculture and Home Economics.
She later pursued postgraduate education at the University of Nairobi, where she enrolled for a Master’s degree in Economic Policy, equipping her with deep expertise in public finance, financial management systems, public service reform, capacity building, and governance.
Career
Professional career
Anne Waiguru began her professional journey in 1993 as a Research Assistant at Transparency International Kenya, where she focused on governance, accountability, and anti-corruption programs.
In 1997, Waiguru joined the Kenya Leadership Institute as a Program Officer, where she worked on capacity-building initiatives targeting government institutions.
Her career took a significant turn in 2003, when she was recruited by the National Treasury, then known as the Ministry of Finance, as a Technical Advisor on Public Finance Management. She played a pivotal role in the development and rollout of the Integrated Financial Management Information System (IFMIS), a landmark project aimed at automating financial processes and enhancing accountability in public spending.
Waiguru was tasked with training civil servants across ministries and ensuring the system’s successful adoption nationwide.
Between 2007 and 2011, she served as Head of Governance and Reform at the Public Service Reform Secretariat, which was under the Office of the Prime Minister.
During the same period, Waiguru worked as a consultant with international organizations such as the World Bank and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).
She advised on financial management reforms and governance programs across various African countries, gaining international experience that enhanced her expertise in institutional reform.
Following the enactment of Kenya’s 2010 Constitution, which ushered in devolution, Waiguru’s expertise was recognized by the new administration.
In April 2013, President Uhuru Kenyatta appointed her as the Cabinet Secretary for Devolution and Planning, making her one of the first women to serve in President Kenyatta’s cabinet.
She was tasked with managing devolution, national planning, and intergovernmental relations, as well as supervising key national development initiatives.
Among the major programs under her docket were the National Youth Service (NYS) empowerment program, which provided job opportunities for thousands of young Kenyans, the Huduma Centres, which revolutionized access to government services, and the coordination of the Kenya Vision 2030 Secretariat, which oversaw the country’s long-term development strategy.
Her tenure, marked by significant achievements in devolution and service delivery, was overshadowed by the 2015 NYS corruption scandal, which involved the alleged loss of Ksh791 million.
Amid growing political pressure, Waiguru resigned from her cabinet position on November 21, 2015, citing health reasons.
After leaving government, she briefly returned to private consultancy in 2016, offering advisory services in governance and public financial management to both local and international clients.
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This period allowed her to reconnect with grassroots leaders in Kirinyaga County as she prepared to transition into elective politics ahead of the 2017 General Election.
Political Career
Anne Waiguru officially entered elective politics in 2017, running for the position of Governor of Kirinyaga County on a Jubilee Party ticket, which was the ruling party at the time.
In the August 2017 General Election, she won decisively, becoming the first female governor of Kirinyaga County.
In June 2019, Waiguru was elected as Vice-Chairperson of the Council of Governors (CoG), where she played a central role in inter-county coordination and policy formulation at the national level.
Ahead of the 2022 General Election, Waiguru shifted her political allegiance from the Jubilee Party to the United Democratic Alliance (UDA), led by President William Ruto.
Running on a UDA ticket, she contested for a second term and won, defeating her main rival Purity Ngirici in a hotly contested race.
Following her re-election, Waiguru was elected as the Chairperson of the Council of Governors in September 2022, becoming the first woman to hold the position since the establishment of devolution.
Waiguru’s second term has focused on flagship projects aimed at boosting Kirinyaga’s economy and positioning the county as a hub for agribusiness and tourism.
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These include the Kerugoya Level Five Hospital, the development of value-added plants for agricultural products, and county-wide digitalization of services to improve efficiency and reduce corruption.
Net worth
Details about her net worth are not publicly available.
However, Anne Waiguru earns a gross salary of Ksh990,000 as a county governor.
This includes:
- Basic salary: Ksh574,200
- House allowance: Ksh200,000
- Salary market adjustment: Ksh196,000
Anne Waiguru is also entitled to benefits and allowances such as:
- Official car (up to 3,000cc) or car allowance
- Medical cover for the governor, spouse, and up to four dependent children
- Airtime allowance: Up to Ksh20,000 per month
- Official residence, security, and travel subsistence allowances (per SRC-approved rates)
- Retirement benefits, including gratuity equivalent to 31% of annual pensionable income or contributions to an established pension scheme
- Group life insurance valued at three times the annual pensionable earnings
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