Governor hints at Kikuyu support for Raila’s Presidency

Kirinyaga governor Anne Mumbi Waiganjo has given a strong indication she will be supporting Opposition leader Raila Odinga for the presidency come 2022 should he decide to contest again for the top seat.

Governor Mumbi, who not so long ago could not see eye to eye with the former prime minister, also indicated the Kikuyu nation was willing and ready to work with Raila and may even form a political alliance with him ahead of the 2022 contest.

Governor Mumbi said the ODM party leader has better understanding of the role of women leaders in Kenya – She indicated she and other political leaders from Mt Kenya are ready to form a political alliance with the former premier – The political dalliance between Mumbi and Raila started after the March 2018 handshake and has only grown stronger – Although the Kirinyaga leader was at some point believed to be supporting DP Ruto’s 2022 bid, she has since shifted allegiance.

 The Kirinyaga leader who appeared on KTN News Pointblank on Thursday, August 14, revealed she had held political talks with the African Union (AU) envoy and was convinced he has the interest of Kenyan women leaders at heart. “We had discussed some serious politics, but we first settled the history we had together. He (Raila) should know the region (Mt Kenya) will want a piece of his government,” the governor told the station.

Mumbi officially got married to her lover lawyer Kamotho Waiganjo on July 13, 2019, in a colourful Kikuyu traditional wedding ceremony graced by both President Uhuru Kenyatta and the Opposition chief. The presence of Raila and conspicuous absence of Deputy President William Ruto at the high profile wedding ceremony left tongues wagging.

The handshake did not only end long-standing political feud between Uhuru and Raila following a chaotic and divisive electioneering period, but it also brought to an end acrimonious relationship that existed between several other Jubilee leaders and the ex-premier.

Mumbi eventually dropped a defamation case she had filed against the ODM leader for linking her to corruption scandals at the National Youth Service (NYS) when she was Devolution Cabinet secretary.