Anne Mumbi Waiguru is one of the most popular governors in the country despite the fact that she is serving her first term.
The self-branded iron lady shook off the NYS scandal to clinching Kirinyaga county top seat in one of the hot political contests experienced in the country during 2017 general elections.
Waiguru managed to beat her rivals Martha Karua and former governor Joseph Ndathi who were much experienced in Kenyan politics as compared to her.
Here are three reasons that enabled Waiguru rise to the helm of Kirinyaga county politics;
The NYS scandal
Waiguru was the main suspect of the major NYS scandal where the country lost billions of money. However, EACC has never revealed the probe findings as Waiguru still maintains that she was not in anyway involved in the looting.
For this reason, Waiguru's name became popular in the whole country and Kirinyaga county residents felt that their daughter’s career was being undermined for nothing. They overwhelmingly voted for her after being forced to resign as the cabinet secretary of devolution.
Her performance as a cabinet secretary
Her performance as a Cabinet secretary for Devolution and planning will be written on the many roads she helped construct, the hundreds of youth she gave hope, the thousands of projects spread across the country and the inception of Huduma centers which has helped to bring service closer to the common citizen. Kirinyaga residents, therefore, believed in her.
Elaborate campaign strategies
Considering the nature of her competitors, Waiguru had no option but to put up a well-oiled campaign. Waiguru teamed up with Wangui Ngirichi, an aggressive woman Representative aspirant known for flamboyant campaigns in choppers and well-branded vehicles.
This enabled her to traverse all parts of Kirinyaga county hence winning the hearts of many residents.