Gachagua Or Kindiki, Just Who Will DP Ruto Pick As His Running Mate?

NAIROBI, Kenya, May, 14 – Earlier this week Deputy President Dr. William Ruto at his official Karen residence said that the decision on who will be his running mate during the upcoming August 9, 2022 elections was an ‘easy’ one.

“The issue of the running mate is an important one, but that issue does not give us sleepless nights..because we are an alliance built on people issues, not on positions for leaders,” said Ruto earlier this week.

Saturday morning, the country anxiously waited after it emerged that a consensus had been struck on who Ruto’s number two would be if elected president.

Hours later, however, jitters appeared to rock the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) presidential hopeful’s Karen residence after a standoff allegedly ensued on who’s Ruto’s pick for the lucrative position would be.

According to sources within the UDA party, the decision on Ruto’s pick for a running mate is between longtime administrator cum Mathira MP Rigathi Gachagua and Law professor cum Tharaka Nithi Senator Professor Kithure Kindiki.

For the better part of the day, Ruto’s Karen residence became a ‘hotbed’ of political discussions and renegotiations amidst a scramble to strike a definitive agreement that would once and for all see Kenyans be informed on who the Kenya Kwanza presidential running mate would be.

Kindiki and Gachagua are as late as Saturday evening said to have left the residence with no decision in sight, even as other senior leaders within the political formation sought to burn the midnight oil in order to make a choice and present a united front amidst concerns from party supporters.

In Gachagua’s Mathira constituency, protests ensued as residents said it was either Gachagua or bust for the running mate position while threatening to withdraw their support for Ruto’s presidential bid.

On Friday it was initially revealed that the announcement on just who would be Ruto’s running mate would be made public at 10 am. This however did not happen as envisaged.

Initially, National Assembly Speaker Justin Muturi, Kirinyaga Governor Anne Waiguru, Kandara MP Alice Wahome, and Kiharu MP Ndindi Nyoro had also been fronted for the position before being ultimately ruled out.

It now appears that Kenyans and party loyalists, in particular, will have to wait even longer before the announcement is made ahead of the May, 16,2022 deadline in compliance with IEBC guidelines.