After a long wait, Deputy President William Ruto has finally named Mathira Member of Parliamemt Rigathi Gachagua as his runningmate.
The DP made the announcement on Sunday, May 15, 2022, after what he said was lengthy and exhaustive consderations.
While unveiling the running mate under the Kenya Kwanza Coalition, Ruto said he edged out a number of qualified individuals.
“He is an individual who scored excellent points in every evaluated parameters,” the DP said.
Gachaua, according to the DP, is an astute debater, a fantastic grassroots mobilizer, disciplined and fearless political operative.
Other individuals who were in contention for the number two slot in Kenya Kwanza included MPs Ndindi Nyoro (Kiharu) and Alice Wahome, National Assembly Speaker Justin Muturi, Kirinyaga Governor Ann Waiguru, and Tharaka Nithi Senator Kithure Kindiki.
Reports had on Saturday emerged that the pick for the running mate position was down two individuals – Gachagua and Kindiki.
These are reports that DP Ruto confirmed, saying Kindiki was the runner-up in their search for his deputy.
And with the running mate question now answered, Ruto said should he win the presidential contest on the August 9, 2022 poll, his first task after being sworn in as the fifth President of Kenya will be to sign an executive order to give clear roles to his deputy.
“I believe that office can serve the people of Kenya better – if not cannibalized and vandalized,” Ruto said, in an apparent reference to the challenges he has had for the last few years with President Uhuru Kenyatta, whom he has accused of taking away his role.
Among the roles a Kenya Kwanza Deputy President will be assigned include;
- Chairing cabinet committee
- Oversee implementation of cabinet decisions
- Coordinate intergovernmental relations between the counties and national government
- Coordinate planning, supervision, and implementation of projects funded by various development partners.
All eyes are now onto the Azimio la Umoja One Kenya Coalition that is expected to unveil its running mate during a political rally at Kamukunji grounds.
Coalition’s presidential candidate Raila Odinga is expected to name his running mate, from a list of three candidates that were presented to him by a seven-member panel of eminent persons.
The three are Narc Kenya Party leader Martha Karua, Wiper Party leader Kalonzo Musyoka, and former Gatanga MP Peter Kenneth.
