Historical report — January 2016. Former Devolution Cabinet Secretary Anne Waiguru addressed rumours about her relationship with then-President Uhuru Kenyatta in a televised interview after leaving office in late 2015. She rejected suggestions of an improper personal relationship.
What did Anne Waiguru say?
During the Citizen TV interview, Waiguru said her relationship with Kenyatta was normal and similar to the professional working relationship of other Cabinet Secretaries with the president. She criticised the way women in public life could be stereotyped when they held senior positions or worked closely with powerful men.
Why did the rumours gain attention?
The interview took place amid intense political debate about alleged irregularities involving the National Youth Service and criticism of the Ministry of Devolution. Waiguru had left her Cabinet position in November 2015. Public scrutiny of her work contributed to political discussion, but rumours about her private life are not proof of any relationship.
What else was discussed in the interview?
Contemporary news coverage says Waiguru addressed her departure from the ministry, questions about her property and finances, and allegations of corruption. She rejected wrongdoing and said she had faced personal attacks. Those were her statements at the time; they should not be presented as independent findings on the underlying corruption allegations.
Separating claims from confirmed facts
The documented fact is that Waiguru publicly denied the rumours and described her relationship with Kenyatta as professional. The earlier version of this article prominently repeated unproven allegations in its headline. This updated account does not treat those allegations as established.
Editor’s update (October 2026): This article reflects comments made in January 2016. It avoids repeating unsupported claims about anyone’s private relationships.
Sources
The Star: Waiguru discusses relationship with Kenyatta
The Star: Waiguru interview on resignation and finances
The Standard: Defamation proceedings arising from allegations
