Editor's Review

Ruto said they will forward a running mate name to IEBC before Monday next week

With less than six days remaining before the IEBC's official deadline for all Presidential candidates to pick their running mates, Deputy President William Ruto has weighed in on the matter.

Speaking on Tuesday from his Karen office when he officially welcomed Kilifi Governor Amason Kingi to Kenya Kwanza Alliance, Ruto assured Kenyans that his camp is ready and that they will have a name to forward to the electoral body before May 16th.

The DP said his camp is organized and that they don't need interviews to find a candidate who is suitable for the job.

"I want to assure you that as Kenya Kwanza and a candidate in the next general election, we will have our running mate forwarded to IEBC before the deadline," stated Ruto.

Among the candidates who have been fronted as Rutu's likely running mate from the Mt Kenya region includes National Assembly Speaker who is also Democratic Party Leader Justin Muturi, Tharaka Nithi Senator Kithure Kindiki, Mathira MP Rigathi Gachagua, Kandara's Alice Wahome and Kirinyaga Governor Anne Waiguru.

However, Muturi, Kindiki and Rigathi Gachagua have been rumored to be the most preferred ones to be nominated. Ruto will be banking on one of them to wrestle the rich vote mountain region away from his competitor Raila Odinga, is also most likely to nominate either Peter Kenneth of Narc Kenya's Martha Karua as his second in command.

{RDP Ruto and National Assembly Speaker Justin Muturi recently during Kenya Kwanza rally. Photo: Courtesy}

This comes at a time when Maendeleo Chap Chap party leader Dr. Alfred Mutua has ruled himself out of the race to become William Ruto's running mate.

Speaking on Monday when he officially ditched Azimio la Umoja camp for Ruto's Kenya Kwanza, the Machakos County chief said he will not be seeking the chance to deputize Deputy President Dr. William Ruto as the position is already decided.

“The running mate position was out of the table as they said it has been decided and so I will not be seeking to deputize Dr. Ruto,” stated Dr. Mutua.