Mathira Member of Parliament, Rigathi Gachagua, has revealed details of a power-sharing deal between Deputy President William Ruto and his Mt Kenya.
Speaking during an interview on a local TV station on Wednesday, December 15, Rigathi revealed that Ruto promised to pick one of his allies from the vote-rich region as his running mate in the 2022 elections.
The billionaire MP went ahead to disclose that they did not issue any demands to the DP, adding that they only requested for a position in government that would see them help him revive the economy.
“We agreed with him that if he wanted us to join his government, then he should look for us a seat where we will help him in reviving the economy, and he told us he will give us the position of Deputy President," he disclosed.
Additionally, he stated that Ruto was given the free will to choose the candidate of his choice from the many allies who have been vocal in defending him during the second term of the Jubilee government.
"We are not giving him any condition. We agreed that he should make the economy better for us as the people of Mt Kenya. Ruto is our candidate and we gave him the free will to look at the leaders from Mt Kenya and choose who will help him in his agenda," Rigathi stated.
While addressing reports of being the favourite candidate for the position after Ruto hinted at picking him as his second in command, Rigathi stated that he was open to taking up the position should it be offered to him.
"Personally, I have never talked to him about that position. I talk to him on a daily basis and we only talk about issues touching on the economy. If he deems fit that there is a position where I can help him, I will.
"Most of the time, he always wants me around because of the plans we have. We also give him sober advice so he wanted me to get more opportunities and we transverse the country together," he stated.
However, the legislator noted that there were attempts by outside forces to cause division among the DP’s allies over who would be picked as the running mate in 2022. He further downplayed speculations that there were divisions between him and other Mt Kenya allies.
"They have attempted to cause friction between me and the likes of Kimani Ichung'wa, Ndidi Nyoro, and Alice Wahome on who will be the running mate, but we are sharp," he stated.
The sentiments by the Legislator come barely days after his Kandara counterpart, Alice Wahome, offered herself as a candidate for the running mate’s position arguing that she would boost the candidature of the DP because of her gender.
Additionally, Rigathi insisted that there were no differences between him and Gatundu Legislator, Moses Kuria, adding that their differences were stage-managed.
"Kuria made a billboard of him with the DP and then some people from Harambee House came and replaced it with mine, we knew that they were trying to cause divisions amongst us," he stated.
