NAIROBI, Kenya — Kirinyaga Governor Anne Waiguru has called on residents of the Mt Kenya region to uphold a long‑repeated political understanding, popularly referred to as “Yangu kumi, ya Ruto kumi” and back President William Ruto for a second term in office.
Speaking on Saturday during the launch of a maternity wing at Mutithi Health Centre in Mwea, Waiguru revived the phrase historically used to describe the informal support arrangement between former President Uhuru Kenyatta and Ruto.
She urged the region to honour the trust placed in Ruto and to continue supporting his leadership into the 2027 general election.
“Uhuru himself said ‘yangu kumi, ya Ruto kumi’. As Mt Kenya, we must honour our promise. Politics is about trust, and once you break trust, no one takes you seriously again,” Waiguru said,
Waiguru also cautioned that despite the region’s large voting population, Mt Kenya alone cannot form a government without forming alliances with other communities.
She warned that internal divisions and political betrayal could undermine Mt Kenya’s influence and isolate it on the national stage.
The governor highlighted that maintaining support for the ruling administration under President Ruto would help sustain ongoing development projects aligned with the Kenya Kwanza manifesto and safeguard the region’s interests.
She dismissed calls for aligning with opposition groups, urging unity under the current government.
In her remarks, Waiguru touched on the broader debate around the impeachment of former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, a leader who once personified Ruto’s Mt Kenya backing but has since fallen out with government leadership.
She criticised political actors sowing division and suggested that loyalty to Ryto’s government would better serve the region’s long‑term interests.
Such political statements are however not binding to a region while voting.
