Former powerful Devolution CS Anne Waiguru yesterday officially joined TNA as a life member as she prepared to plunge into the race for Kirinyaga governor. Today she will announce her bid to unseat Governor Joseph Ndathi.
Waiguru, who had initially indicated she would run for Nairobi governor, told a press conference at the party headquarters, “I have consulted widely and felt that I need to begin servanthood at home.”
No longer technocrat
“The people of Nairobi have reached out to me to see if I can serve them in some political capacity, but I want to declare that a lot of consultations have been going on and I think it is good to start from where you come from, and I have listened to that voice,” she said.
Waiguru was accompanied by hundreds of supporters ferried by four buses from Kirinyaga. “Today is a large milestone for me in my transition from a manager to a politician. I have been largely a technocrat but I want to say that I am up to the task, we have the support of the people of Kirinyaga and I am sure we will make it,” she said after receiving her golden membership certificate.
TNA secretary general Onyango Oloo said the event should not be construed to mean TNA endorsement of Waiguru. He said the party will give all aspirants a level playing field. “The party structures stand neutral, oblivious to any person’s position, offering a free, fair and transparent playground for all to play their politics,” Oloo said.
Asked about the timing of her entry into TNA, barely two weeks to its collapse and merger into the Jubilee Party, Waiguru said it will give her an opportunity to participate freely in the JP grand launch. TNA is among 13 parties gearing up for simultaneous National Delegates Conventions on September 8 for members to ratify dissolutions ahead of the grand launch of JP a day later.
Waiguru said men are women’s greatest enemies. “Kenya is largely a patriarch society. We must move the country to the direction that women are equal to women,” she said. Waiguru urged women to run for election and compete equally with the men, instead of seeking nomination.