The hint by William Ruto that he may pick Rigathi Gachagua as his running mate has raised political temperatures in Mt Kenya region. Within Ruto’s kitchen cabinet, there are those pushing for Alice Wahome to be his running mate. Wahome factor, however, is that being a pro-Gachagua pundits say she has no resources, temperamental and above all likes enjoying hard drinks. Ruto hinted at picking the vocal legislator to deputise him during his tour of Nyeri county. “I have never seen a meeting this big in Nyeri. Some people had said we would not be allowed to come here but this MP of yours really knows his job well,” Ruto said, as he asked the voters to allow Gachagua to join him in the national campaigns.
Rigathi GachaguaGachagua is seen as a powerful force in Mt Kenya politics due to his strong mobilisation skills even though he faces numerous corruption battles in court. His corruption case has been set for mention on February 24 and the hearing pushed to September 2022, meaning the case will be heard after the August 9 2022 general election which might see Gachagua then sitting as deputy president if Ruto picks him as his running mate, and they win the race. Ruto, insiders revealed, in considering picking the Mathira MP as his deputy, is banking on his wide political experience and deep pockets. Gachagua spent five years as Uhuru Kenyatta’s personal assistant in the early 2000s but has now become one of the president’s fiercest critics. The vocal MP even argues that Uhuru is punishing him by parading him in court for supporting Ruto. The first-term MP has built his national profile as an outspoken, even confrontational figure. But the hint by Ruto to pick him as deputy has raised political temperatures in the mountain, with Mount Kenya East that comprises Embu, Meru and Tharaka Nithi counties opposing the move.
Alice Wahome The Mount Kenya East with over 1.5 million voters has been pushing Ruto to pick his running mate from the region. The leaders from the region argue they have the best chance to produce the DP’s running mate, noting they have supported the Kikuyu far too long. In the region, the leading contenders for running mate slot are Meru senator Mithika Linturi and his Tharaka Nithi counterpart Kithure Kindiki. Linturi is on record declaring that Mt Kenya East leaders are consolidating the region to have a common voice so as to increase their chances of one of them being picked as the DP’s running mate. The senator opines that since Kiambu and Nyeri have produced presidents Jomo Kenyatta, Uhuru Kenyatta and Mwai Kibaki, and another powerful person cannot come from there and hence disqualifies Gachagua as he is from Nyeri. “We have had a vice-president and presidents coming from that area because Kibaki held the two positions. The current president comes from Kiambu. We cannot go back there again. This greed must stop. This time round, we are saying as Mt Kenya East people, it is our time,” said Linturi, a key member of the DP’s camp. “Seniority is key. I have never lost an election. I have been elected a number of times. I have been firm and consistent. I work closely with Kithure of Tharaka Nithi because I lead the entire team of the entire Mount Kenya East and he is a member and he does not miss the meetings.
Mithika Linturi I’m also a member of the team which is in charge of planning Ruto’s activities in Mount Kenya,” he said while drumming up support for his bid to deputise Ruto. Insiders revealed that following Ruto’s hint, Mt Kenya East leaders are planning to storm the Karen residence to demand the deputy president retracts the words. They are fearing a Ruto- Gachagua ticket will not sell in their region, noting that the ticket will see Raila make inroads in the region to their disadvantage. The Mount Kenya East leaders are even suggesting Ruto picks Justin Muturi as his running mate. Muturi comes from the Mbeere community in Embu county. But Muturi has dismissed such reports, saying he will go all the way to the presidential ballot via the Democratic Party of Kenya. The speaker was mid this year controversially enthroned as the spokesman of the Mt Kenya region. He is also the senior-most politician from Mt Kenya after the president but has repeatedly stated he is pursuing his presidential dream and will not play second fiddle to anyone. Insiders revealed that also opposed to the picking of Gachagua are leaders from Murang’a county who argue it is their time to produce the next Kikuyu kingpin. For one, the Murang’a leaders opine that their main rival, Raila is likely to pick either former Gatanga MP Peter Kenneth or Equity Bank chief executive James Mwangi as his running mate.
Kithure Kindiki The leaders aver that if Raila picks his running mate from Murang’a and Ruto picks his from Nyeri, they (Murang’a leaders) will have a hard time selling the deputy president to the over 700,000 voters in the region. They argue that in the campaigns, the voters will point out that the region is likely to realise its dream of producing a president through Raila than Ruto. Since the 2017 polls, Murang’a has been angling to produce the next Mt Kenya kingpin after Uhuru. Its leaders from across the political divide have been vocal that it is time for the region considered as the cradle of the Kikuyu community to produce a national leader after Uhuru (Kiambu), Kibaki (Nyeri) and Jomo Kenyatta (Kiambu). The leaders opine that they supported all the three presidents and hence it is their time to produce the kingpin. Those angling for Ruto’s running mate slot include area Senator Irungu Kang’ata, Kiharu MP Ndindi Nyoro and his Kandara counterpart Alice Wahome.
Justin MuturiThe three are staunch supporters of the deputy president. Kangata, who was fired from the position of senate majority whip after he wrote to Uhuru telling him the Building Bridges Initiative was dead as a dodo, has been building his political clout with his eyes on the country’s second-in-command position if Ruto-linked UDA forms the next government. He has also shown interest in succeeding Governor Mwangi wa Iria. Kang’ata insists the DP’s post in Ruto’s camp should go to Mt Kenya and Murang’a in particular. He is joined by Nyoro in demanding the slot goes to the region. Nyoro, a firebrand critic of the president, has been vocal that those eyeing Ruto’s running mate position must work hard to earn the position, arguing that it will not be given to anyone on a silver platter.
Irungu Kang’ata Nyoro is among Murang’a leaders who have stood with Ruto through thick and thin and hopes that if Ruto picks him as deputy, all the youth in Mt Kenya will vote en masse for UDA. The legislator was born in 1985. Insiders added that Wahome is also opposed to the picking of Gachagua, arguing she is the best suited since as a woman, their ticket will get support of the majority voters. The Kandara MP has also stood with Ruto through tumults political moments. Insiders added that Laikipia leaders are not opposed to Ruto picking Gachagua. This is after former Agriculture cabinet secretary and Leader of The Service Party Mwangi Kiunjuri, who was eyeing the slot, fell out with the deputy president. Insiders added that Kiambu leaders are also warning that they have the numbers, noting if Ruto picks a running-mate from their region he is guaranteed at least one million votes to start with.
Ndindi Nyoro The leaders argue their numbers are their strength and the DP can only ignore the region at his own peril. But one of those angling for the slot, Gatundu South MP Moses Kuria, has fallen out with the deputy president while Kikuyu MP Kimani Ichungwa, another close ally of Ruto, is said to be comfortable with the picking of Gachagua as deputy. At the moment Kiambu, Nyandarua, Kirinyaga, Laikipia and Nakuru counties do not have a strong figure angling to be Ruto’s running mate.
There's no story that cannot be told. We cover the stories that others don't want to be told, we bring you all the news you need. If you have tips, exposes or any story you need to be told bluntly and all queries write to us [email protected] also find us on Telegram
