In an interview with Kenyans.co.ke on Friday, January 17, former Kiambu Governor William Kabogo rubbished the possibility of former Agriculture CS Mwangi Kiunjuri becoming Deputy William Ruto's running mate in 2022.
Kabogo was reacting to media reports that Kiunjuri was in line to be Ruto's number two and a headline by Daily Nation on January 15 which read, Did Uhuru Sack Ruto's Running Mate?
The former governor explained that the axed CS had demonstrated incompetence while in office and that the DP knew better.
"You have seen the way he ran the ministry, Kiunjuri demonstrated a lack of intelligence, look at how he handled the locust menace, he should have pre-planned," Kabogo stated.
"How do you tell people to take photos of locusts and send them to you? Is that an intelligent person?" he posed.
Kabogo argued that senior state officers required discretion and the intelligence to run the country. He highlighted that the office of the deputy president could not be occupied by any random individual.
One would have to demonstrate the ability to execute the mandate afforded to them by having a proven track record and according to Kabogo, Kiunjuri has failed in that.
"Some jobs are just not for everybody, it's like if you went to your village picked some random person and installed him as president, it doesn't work that way," Kabogo argued.
"Being the deputy president requires utter intelligence and a good track record. Kiunjuri has clearly demonstrated he cannot," he added.
The former Kiambu boss recounted the efforts he put into improving the lives of farmers in the region and blamed Kiunjuri for the woes the Agricultural sector in the region faces.
"You are aware of the work we did in Kiambu. Now it is worse. Farmers are suffering," Kabogo stated.
He went on to call out Daily Nation for the headline, stating that it sent a misleading narrative to members of the public.
"And Nation should stop putting out such titles, its as if they are paid to do so," Kabogo remarked.
However, popular political analyst Herman Manyora argued that Kiunjuri was best suited to become DP Ruto's running mate in 2022.
He explained that with Kiunjuri having been the most vocal Cabinet Secretary in the Tanga Tanga faction of the Jubilee Party allied to Ruto, his exit from the Agriculture Ministry positioned him as the man who took the fall for Ruto.
"Kiunjuri looks set to become Ruto's running mate in 2022 because he has taken the beating for Ruto," Manyora opined.
