Kirinyaga Governor Anne Waiguru has denied rifts with Deputy President William Ruto insisting that their relationship is both cordial and very professional.
Speaking to a local Tv station on Wednesday night, Waiguru claimed the DP need not apologize to her over remarks he made in 2016 linking her to the first NYS Scandal.
“There are things you do not carry for a lifetime and hold lightly. For instance, people will have perceptions based on the information they have. I have never personally discussed the issue with him. We have a good, cordial and professional relationship,” she said.
Mr Ruto once famously dismissed Ms Waiguru’s defence over her alleged involvement in the NYS scandal as mere “catwalk and kizungu mingi”.
“Kingereza mingi, mnatufanyia catwalk hapa around na ni wazi pesa ya umma imepotea, mwenye hiyo pesa anasema aliweka kwa gunia. Sasa kweli jameni dunia hii [You are catwalking for us and speaking a lot of English yet it’s clear public money has been stolen and the one who took it says he used a sack to carry it. This world!] Ruto lashed out at Ms Waiguru in 2016
She also adrresed rumors that she will be William Ruto’s running mate come the 2022 Presidential elections.
“About running mate, there isn’t a yes or no answer because that is not a decision I make. I am currently focusing on being Kirinyaga governor and issues of running mate will come later,” she said.
She added that the country was prepared to have a female deputy president.
The former Devolution Cabinet secretary defended her meeting with Mr Ruto at his Karen home a day after the controversial Ipsos Synovate poll results that ranked her as the second most corrupt person in Kenya, after the DP.
“The DP has been to Kirinyaga at least seven times even before the opinion poll. I think the DP is an extremely intelligent person and he knows how to make his assessment with regard to politics,” he said.
The Karen meeting, she said, had been arranged a week earlier when the DP visited Kirinyaga county after MCAs requested to have a sit down with him.
Ms Waiguru further urged the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) to release the findings of an audit conducted on her lifestyle, discrediting claims she owns property worth billions.
“I would not mind the EACC releasing the audit on me. There have been a lot of stories on social media about my property. I do not own a building in Luthuli,” she said.
The county boss noted there was a sustained attack against her aimed at destroying her political career.
“Kenyans out there are brilliant people, they are not fooled by media and they do not buy the lies,” she said.