Waiguru U-Turn on Ruto Campaign as GEMA UDA MPs Face Hostile Crowds

Governor Anne Waiguru’s sudden shift in tone on February 8, 2026, signals a strategic effort to salvage the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) brand in the Mt. Kenya region, where grassroots support has recently hit turbulent waters.

For months, Waiguru had largely avoided national politics, focusing on development projects in Kirinyaga County while steering clear of the “Wantam” (One Term) debate surrounding President William Ruto’s 2027 bid. 

But growing hostility toward UDA legislators from Murang’a, Nyeri, and Kiambu has prompted her intervention.

“Abandoning Ruto now would send the wrong signal,” Waiguru told a gathering in Kirinyaga. 

“Mt. Kenya has always honored its commitments. We cannot betray the covenant that binds us to the country’s leadership.”

Her remarks revive the old Jubilee-era slogan, “Kumi Yangu, Kumi ya Ruto” (Ten for me, ten for Ruto), framing the 2027 contest not as an economic or policy debate but as a matter of regional honor. 

By appealing to tradition, she aims to counter the widespread “Wantam” sentiment that has become a staple at political rallies.

On January 25, 2026, several GEMA UDA MPs were reportedly heckled at a church function in Nyeri, forcing them to cut short their speeches.

“We were met with chants and anger about the rising cost of living,” one aide noted. 

“Waiguru’s intervention gives us a new narrative—one that transcends economic grievances and emphasizes political stability.”

The U-turn also positions Waiguru as a check on the growing influence of Rigathi Gachagua and his Democracy for the Citizens Party (DCP), which has attracted disillusioned UDA supporters. 

Waiguru has publicly distanced herself from the “Gachagua resistance,” arguing that Mt. Kenya’s youth programs and agricultural initiatives are better protected within a broad-based government.

Analysts say Waiguru is banking on a “fear of the unknown” strategy, warning that a divided Mt. Kenya could lose its leverage at the national bargaining table. 

Yet, with anti-UDA sentiment still palpable, her push to secure votes for Ruto is a high-stakes gamble that could either solidify her reputation as the region’s pragmatic technocrat or isolate her politically if the “Wantam” wave persists.