Kirinyaga Governor Anne Waiguru has expressed her delight after “reconnecting” with her archrival in last year’s general elections, Wangui Ngirici.

The two leaders buried the hatchet, shook hands and hugged to the surprise of residents during President William Ruto’s tour in Kagio town on Saturday, August 6, 2023,

Taking to X, formerly known as Twitter, Waiguru said she was happy to reconnect with Ngirici a year after the hotly contested election that saw the rift between them widen.

“There is a season for everything under the sun and every season is covered by God’s Grace. Happy to reconnect with my sister Wangui Ngirici,” the governor posted on Saturday night.

There is a season for everything under the sun and every season is covered by God's Grace. Happy to reconnect with my sister @WanguiNgirici @WilliamsRuto @susankihika @HonJumwa @MillicentOmanga pic.twitter.com/SoITEMfg5T

— Anne Waiguru EGH, OGW (@AnneWaiguru) August 5, 2023

President Ruto was in Kagio town for the commissioning of the Kerugoya -Kutus Water Supply Project.

During the event, Waiguru thanked the Head of State for appointing Ngirici to a plum job in his administration.

“Mr President, we would like to thank you for appointing our sister Wangui Ngirici as chairperson of the of the Kenya Seed Company. As Kirinyaga people, we are very happy that you are honouring one of our own,” Waiguru said at the Kiburu trading centre.

Waiguru-Ngirici rivalry

Waiguru and Ngirici have reportedly not been seeing each other eye to eye since the August 9 poll, when the former Kirinyaga Woman Representative lost to the county boss, who was defending her seat.

Months before the poll, Ngirici had ditched Ruto’s United Democratic Alliance (UDA) party following Waiguru’s defection from the then-ruling Jubilee party.

The outspoken former legislator accused UDA party honchos of favouring Waiguru after she was reportedly asked to drop her bid for the county’s gubernatorial seat.

She opted to run for the seat on an independent ticket, finishing second after Waiguru.

Ngirici would later challenge the governor’s victory in court, alleging massive rigging.

She, however, resolved to withdraw the matter two months later, citing the need to allow Kirinyaga residents to enjoy uninterrupted services.

“After serious soul searching and wide consultation with my supporters and UDA and Kenya Kwanza leadership, I have decided to take a bold step; One that does not serve to advantage me or disorganize and disenfranchise the Governor but one that serves the full advantage to the people of Kirinyaga,” Ngirici said in October last year.

“I have gone against strong tides of pressure to press on with the court battle, resolved to withdraw the Petition challenging Governor Waiguru’s victory, not because we didn’t have facts nor pregnant grounds to see the petition to the end but to allow the people of Kirinyaga to enjoy uninterrupted services.”