Waiguru Regrets Trusting Too Much While in Cabinet

Kirinyaga Governor Anne Waiguru says she trusted too many people during her time as a cabinet secretary. She shared this in a local television interview on Sunday, October 18, 2026.

Waiguru says she regrets her naivety and admits she believed too much in others. She calls herself very naive about how politics worked during her years in government.

Sensing a Setup

The governor says she could see that someone was preparing to frame her. She still believed a powerful ally would protect her, but nobody stepped forward to help.

Her words offer a rare look at how trust shapes political careers in Kenya. Political alliances and the handling of allegations often decide the fate of senior public officials.

Role Under Uhuru Kenyatta

Waiguru served as Cabinet Secretary for Devolution and Planning under former President Uhuru Kenyatta. She held that position until a major controversy over the National Youth Service engulfed her ministry.

The NYS Scandal

The scandal emerged in 2015 and involved claims of irregular payments and lost public funds. Waiguru faced intense political pressure, and many people called on her to resign.

She denied any wrongdoing and insisted she did not personally benefit from the alleged irregularities. In November 2015, she resigned from the Cabinet and cited health reasons for leaving.

Path to Governor

Waiguru later entered elective politics and won the Kirinyaga governorship in the 2017 election. Voters then returned her for a second term during the 2022 General Election.

Her latest remarks revisit a turning point that shaped her entire political career. They also show the risks politicians take when they place faith in allies.