Kirinyaga Governor Anne Mumbi Waiguru has been denied a permit to host Deputy President William Ruto at the recently constructed Wang'uru Stadium in Mwea.
Waiguru, who decamped to Ruto's United Democratic Alliance (UDA) party late last year, was denied a permit to host a meeting at the facility considered as President Uhuru Kenyatta's flagship project in the area.
Waiguru and a section of MPs and MCAs from Kirinyaga, however, remain adamant that the DP's Saturday, January 29 rally in Mwea will continue despite the venue being blocked.
The governor accused the state of trying to muzzle UDA leaders by refusing to allow them to use Wang'uru Stadium for the event.
Waiguru is scheduled to host DP Ruto, ANC's Musalia Mudavadi and Ford Kenya's Moses Wetangula in their first joint rally in Mt Kenya region.
The outspoken Governor stated that no amount of intimidation, blackmail or threats will stop the Deputy President from meeting the people and winning the August 9 elections.
The Governor accused Interior Principal Secretary, Karanja Kibicho, of being behind the move.
"This discrimination will not go unnoticed by the people of Kirinyaga, we are telling them the ground is UDA even if they block us from using the stadium," governor Waiguru stated.
She was speaking after a joint UDA leaders meeting attended by Ndia MPs George Kariuki and Gichugu MP Gichimu Githinji and MCAs led by majority leader James Murango.
Waiguru has been feuding with Ngirici and PS Kibicho has been in the middle of their political rivalry. The feud between the two leaders saw Ngirici exit from the United Democratic Alliance (UDA).
The Kirinyaga Women Rep announced that she would not be vying for governorship under the party that is also Deputy President William Ruto's vehicle in the 2022 presidential race.
Ngirichi announced that she would be vying as an independent candidate.
"In 2022, I will not stand with any political party. I will seek to be elected as a governor, as an individual, and I'm confident that I will sail through,” the Woman Rep stated.
She revealed that she decided to part ways with the Ruto team after people she referred to as the owners of UDA asked her to shelve her gubernatorial ambitions in favour of Kirinyaga Governor Anne Waiguru.
Ngirici further indicated that she would no longer campaign for Ruto in the presidential race - urging her supporters to choose freely any candidate which they will deem fit.
She hit out at Waiguru, faulting her for using UDA, which has gained popularity in the area to impose herself on the people. She claimed that the people would reject her as she failed to deliver.
