Governor Anne Waiguru has laid out an ambitious case for why she believes she should become President William Ruto’s running mate in the 2027 General Election, arguing that Deputy President Kithure Kindiki is not guaranteed the position and insisting that she brings a unique combination of experience, competence and gender representation.
Speaking during an interview on Citizen TV’s Sunday Live on October 19, the Kirinyaga governor said the deputy presidency, like any elective position, remains open to competition and should not be viewed as the preserve of one individual.
Waiguru said her interest in the position stems from her extensive experience in government, the private sector, and county leadership, adding that she believes she has the qualifications to serve in the country’s second-highest office.
“Let’s start. I worked for the World Bank, a fantastic institution. Citibank. I worked in Treasury. I worked in the Office of the President. I have worked as a governor. I have worked in more institutions and held more leadership positions than both Kindiki and Gachagua. So I believe I am qualified.”
Waiguru on Ruto’s Best Deputy
According to Waiguru, she played a key role in implementing several national government programmes, including the Economic Stimulus Programme, the automation of government financial management systems, the establishment of Huduma Centres and the promotion of government procurement opportunities for women, youth and persons with disabilities.
She argued that her public service track record makes her among the most qualified leaders for the role.
“Nobody’s going to come and knock your door and tell you, Anne, you have a brilliant CV and you’ve done pretty well in Kirinyaga. Here is a position. I have learned that you just have to jostle,” she said.
Waiguru said this is not the first time her name has featured in discussions about the deputy presidency.
She said she stepped aside during discussions ahead of the 2022 election to avoid divisions within the Kenya Kwanza coalition, despite being considered for the running mate position.
She also noted that her name resurfaced in 2024 after the political fallout involving former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, but she was not selected.
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The governor insisted that Kindiki’s appointment does not make him the only qualified candidate.
“Kindiki knows that he’s first among equals. Yes, you are picked, but it doesn’t mean that you’re the only one qualified,” she said.
Waiguru maintained that politics is competitive and leaders are entitled to express interest in positions they believe they can hold.
Asked whether she thinks she would outperform Kindiki, she avoided direct comparisons, saying the issue was not about being better than the deputy president but about bringing a different skill set to government.
She argued that President Ruto would eventually have to decide which qualities and political considerations would best position his administration for a second term.
Central to her argument was the belief that Kenya needs stronger female representation in high-level leadership positions.
Waiguru said having a woman at the centre of government decision-making would strengthen governance, improve representation and inspire future generations of women leaders.
She argued that women bring different perspectives to issues such as maternal health, caregiving, water access and agriculture, areas she said often affect women disproportionately.
Gachagua Not Mt Kenya Kingpin
Waiguru also rejected suggestions that former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has emerged as the undisputed political kingpin of the Mt Kenya region.
Instead, she described him as a spokesperson for dissenting voices rather than the region’s dominant political figure.
According to the governor, internal assessments suggest many residents may view Gachagua as their representative voice but not necessarily as a presidential candidate.
“He is not our kingpin. They consider him a spokesperson,” she said.
She further argued that Mt Kenya risks political isolation if it abandons Ruto without presenting its own presidential candidate.
Waiguru said the region currently enjoys significant representation within government and warned that backing leaders without a viable presidential path could weaken the region’s bargaining power after 2027.
The governor also defended her decision to leave former President Uhuru Kenyatta’s political camp ahead of the 2022 election.
She denied betraying Kenyatta, saying she told him about her move before joining Ruto’s side and arguing that political leaders routinely make strategic decisions about their political future.
“People say I betrayed Uhuru. But when I left, I went and told him. Politics is about choices. Even Uhuru himself moved from Kanu to Narc, from Narc to Kanu again, from Kanu to TNA, from TNA to Jubilee and later to Azimio. Political leaders make decisions depending on the circumstances of the time.”
Waiguru Dismisses Opposition Chances
The governor insisted that none of the leading names currently being floated can defeat Ruto in 2027.
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She singled out Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna, Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka, and former Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i, arguing that none currently has the political machinery to unseat the president.
Waiguru said winning a presidential election requires far more than social media popularity and large rally crowds.
She praised Ruto’s ability to mobilise political support, noting that he previously convinced more than 100 MPs to back his presidential bid while serving as deputy president.
While acknowledging Sifuna’s growing profile, the governor argued that the former ODM Secretary General still needs more time before mounting a serious presidential challenge.
She predicted that Kalonzo is likely to emerge as the opposition’s preferred candidate but maintained that he would stand no chance against Ruto.
Waiguru also criticised opposition leaders for failing to offer alternative economic policies, saying most of their messaging focuses on attacking the government without presenting solutions to challenges such as public debt, budget deficits, inflation, and economic growth.
At the same time, she defended Ruto’s economic record, citing GDP growth, stable inflation, strong foreign exchange reserves, agricultural reforms, and expanded health coverage under the Social Health Authority.
Reflecting on her political journey, Waiguru admitted her greatest regret was being “naive” in Cabinet, saying she trusted people who later failed to protect her when political storms erupted around the National Youth Service (NYS) scandal.
However, she insisted the chapter is behind her and said her two successful gubernatorial elections demonstrate that voters have already made their judgment.
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