Cate Waruguru faces assault charges

• Dec 10, 2021

Laikipia Woman Member of Parliament, Catherine Waruguru (pictured above), is now under investigation by police following allegations of assault.

Waruguru, an ally of Deputy President William Ruto, is facing accusations of assaulting a Laikipia resident during the DP’s recent tour of the county on Tuesday, December 7.

According to Donald Sailor, the Kirima Sub County Police Commander, a 28-year-old resident of Sipili in Laikipia West, filed a report at Sipili Police Station accusing the Woman Rep of physically assaulting her.

Sailor told a local daily that his team was piecing together evidence to determine whether the assault actually happened and if determined to be so, charge the politician.

“The lady made a complaint with the police on Thursday claiming to have been arrested by the MP,” the police boss said.

 “Investigations will be launched with a view of establishing what really transpired."

Waruguru has since been summoned by the police to record a statement on the allegations before the next course of action is determined.

The complainant, identified as Lucy Wairimu, accused the MP of physically and verbally assaulting her after she (Waruguru) was heckled by the residents of Sipili during the DP’s tour of the region on Wednesday, December 8.

During the same rally, the DP was heckled by a section of the youth believed to be allied to former outlawed Mungiki leader, Maina Njenga.

DP Ruto, angered by the youth who attempted to disrupt his meeting, lost his cool and chased them away, asking them to go and plan their own meeting elsewhere.

Waruguru, who is keen to contest for the Laikipia East Parliamentary seat on a United Democratic Alliance’s (UDA) party ticket, joined the DP Ruto outfit less than a month ago, shifting her allegiance from President Uhuru Kenyatta’s ruling Jubilee Party.

The Woman MP, known for her combative and bullish nature, will be seeking to unseat the incumbent, Amin Deddy Mohamed, when the country goes to the polls on August 9, 2022.

She is also seen as one of DP Ruto’s strongest allies in the Laikipia region. The Woman MP is also part of a strong all-women brigade from Mt Kenya that is supporting Ruto to succeed his boss, Uhuru Kenyatta when his term comes to an end.

Waruguru, Kirinyaga Governor Anne Mumbi Waiguru, and Woman Rep Purity Ngirici, are some of the most vocal women leaders from Mt Kenya leading Ruto’s campaign.

As things stand now, it is a wait-and-see situation on whether the police will charge her with assault or not depending with the weight of the evidence presented.