Kirinyaga UDA Leadership Battle Intensifies as Waiguru and Ndia MP Trade Barbs

Kirinyaga County, Kenya – Political tensions in Kirinyaga County escalated over the weekend as Governor Anne Waiguru and Ndia MP George Kariuki engaged in a fierce exchange over control and leadership of the ruling United Democratic Alliance (UDA) party in the county. 

The dispute, which has been brewing behind the scenes for months, came to the fore during the ongoing UDA grassroots elections, highlighting internal party divisions as the county prepares for the 2027 general elections.

Governor Waiguru, accompanied by Kirinyaga Central MP Gachoki Gitari, asserted her authority over the party, citing her position as the county’s elected governor. 

She argued that being the senior-most elected official automatically grants her leadership over UDA in Kirinyaga.

"I am the elected governor of this county and the senior-most leader. Leadership is earned through the ballot, not self-declaration," Waiguru stated during a public address on Friday, January 9, 2026. 

She further challenged Ndia MP George Kariuki to test his leadership ambitions by contesting the gubernatorial seat rather than attempting to claim party supremacy through internal maneuvering.

"If he wants to lead Kirinyaga, let him face the people and win a countywide seat. I will not allow anyone to grab leadership from the back door," she added. 

Waiguru also dismissed claims that Kariuki’s status as a founding member of UDA gives him an edge in the party hierarchy. 

She emphasized that contributions from newer members, including herself, have strengthened UDA’s presence and helped secure victories across most county seats.

Kariuki, however, responded swiftly, accusing the governor of political opportunism and questioning her loyalty to the party. 

Speaking after casting his vote at Kathaka Primary School on Saturday, January 10, 2026, he claimed Waiguru only joined UDA at the last minute, abandoning her previous support for the BBI initiative, to safeguard her political career.

"When we were popularising UDA on the ground, she was campaigning for BBI. She only joined UDA close to elections to save her seat," Kariuki said. He went on to label Waiguru a “political octopus,” alleging that she simultaneously maintains ties with both UDA and the Jubilee Party.

"She has one leg in UDA and another in Jubilee. You cannot serve two masters and claim to lead this party," Kariuki remarked, adding that Waiguru’s claim to UDA leadership in Kirinyaga is inconsistent with her political trajectory.

The legislator also challenged Waiguru’s authority in light of ongoing speculation about her future political plans. 

Kariuki suggested that the governor may be planning to rejoin Jubilee, which, he said, undermines her credibility within UDA. He encouraged Waiguru to focus on her own political path without undermining other leaders.

The conflict has exposed deeper fractures within UDA at the county level, reflecting a national trend where ruling party leaders face internal contestations over succession and party control ahead of the 2027 general elections. 

With Waiguru representing a more established faction aligned with county executive authority, and Kariuki leveraging his founding status and legislative influence, the battle underscores the growing competition among UDA leaders in strategic counties.

Both Waiguru and Kariuki are now keenly aware that the outcome of the grassroots elections could set the tone for future control of the party machinery in Kirinyaga.