Anne Waiguru

DATE OF BIRTH


April 16, 1971

GENDER


Female

OCCUPATION


Politician

FAMILY


Married to lawyer Kamotho Waiganjo. She has two children.

BIOGRAPHY


Education: After her primary schooling, Ms Waiguru joined Precious Blood Birls Secondary school for her O-levels between 1984 and 1987 and Moi Forces Academy, Nairobi, where she sat for her A-Level exams in 1989. She joined Egerton University where she obtained a Bachelor's degree in Agriculture and Home Economics. She also holds a Master's degree in Public Finance from the University of Nairobi.

Ms Waiguru is the governor of Kirinyaga County having been elected after her first attempt in elective politics. 

She started her career at Transparency International before moving to the Kenya Leadership Institute. Her career in public service started when she was hired as a consultant to provide technical assistance to the Public Service Reform Secretariat. She then served as the Head of Governance and the Economic Stimulus Programme at the National Treasury.

In 2011, she was nominated as one of the Top 40 under 40 women in the country, the only nominee at the time from the Public Service. She was then promoted to head the directorate of Integrated Financial Management and Information System (IFMIS), and Head of Governance at the National Treasury.

President Uhuru Kenyatta appointed her Cabinet Secretary in charge of Devolution after he was declared the winner of the 2013 general election. She served until 2016 when she resigned under the weight of corruption allegations. 

In 2017 she was elected the second governor of Kirinyaga County and survived an impeachment attempt in 2019 amid allegations of corruption. 

She has also served as the vice chair of the Council of Governors.

Latest articles on Anne Waiguru:

  1. PREMIUM Nyakang’o, governors in row over spending

    Council of Governors is now defending 10 governors who were found not to have spent a single shilling on development.

    Nyakang'o and Waiguru
  2. Kirinyaga battling invasive snail from South America brought by climate crisis: Waiguru

    As researchers sought to unearth how the snail reached there, sampling was done using a standard snail scoop in 15 streams, four ponds and four canals within the Mwea Irrigation Scheme

  3. Waiguru to climate forum: Kenyan women drowning in sewage and floods

    Council of Governors chair expresses concern at the ongoing COP28 in Dubai about the fallout from the climate crisis.

  4. Waiguru lauds bid to fund climate action in counties

    Devolved financing models have showed strong evidence of effectiveness.

    Council of Governors chair Anne Waiguru
  5. Governors clash with Gachagua on El Nino response funds

    DP says counties need to reallocate funds in their budgets.

    Council of Governors Chairperson Anne Waiguru
  6. Governors want protection from ‘malicious’ ward reps

    They want the passage of the Impeachment Procedure Bill, 2018 expedited.

    Council of Governors chair Anne Waiguru
  7. Kawira impeachment a fight against gender equality, says Wanga

    Homa Bay governor says attempts to oust her Meru counterpart will roll back the gains made in promoting women's inclusion in top leadership.

    Meru Governor Kawira Mwangaza
  8. Waiguru clinches CoG chair seat for second time

    Governors now say they want similar provisions for impeachment as the President.

  9. The power women calling shots in key State agencies

    The movers and shakers hold decisive positions, shaping Kenya’s governance and administration in the public sector.

  10. How devolution has changed women's leadership

    It's been 10 years since the devolved system came into force.

  11. Waiguru: How colleague saved me and my unborn baby

    Kirinyaga governor says she nearly died when she felt unwell at work while heavily pregnant with her third-born son.

  12. How toll-free m-mama seeks to tame maternal deaths

    Service created through a partnership to provide transport to pregnant women in emergency cases.

  13. Raila: Ruto's government wants to kill devolution

    Raila says the Kenya Kwanza administration is plotting to starve devolution by depriving county governments of funds.

    Raila Odinga
  14. How Karua fixed my crown: From menial jobs to Kirinyaga assembly

    Caroline Wanjiku Muriithi is grateful that Narc Kenya leader held her hand without telling the world.

  15. Medical kits grind to a halt as contract ended

    County bosses express fears of many patients losing out or even dying as some contractors think they are being pushed out of new plan.

    President Ruto wants the contracts terminated.
  16. Amujae Leaders: How to succeed in politics

    Women’s participation in politics and governance has been increasing rather slowly in Africa.

  17. Prepare for top leadership, Sirleaf tells African women

    Former Liberian head of state was the first elected woman president in Africa.

  18. Waiguru sets up GBV desks in Kirinyaga hospitals

    Governor says sexual and gender-based violence cases are on the rise, hence the need for swift response.

  19. Waiguru wins award, launches campaign against cyberbullying

    Drive is in line with this year's International Women’s Day theme, which is ‘DigitAll: Innovation and Technology for Gender Equality’

  20. Detractors won’t derail our agenda, say female governors

    County chiefs dismiss critics, say they will not relent in their efforts to improve livelihoods.