Pressure on Ruto to Pick Running mate From Mt Kenya

Musalia Mudavadi William Ruto
ANC Party Leader Musalia Mudavadi and Deputy President William Ruto exchange pleasantries during the ANC National Delegates Conference
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Nominated Senator Isaac Mwaura now claims that Amani National Congress (ANC) Party Leader Musalia Mudavadi shall not be Deputy President William Ruto’s running mate in the upcoming August elections.

This comes on the back of ANC’s National Delegates Conference (NDC) which saw Ruto and Mudavadi join forces towards a possible alliance.

The Senator, who is allied to Ruto’s United Democratic Alliance (UDA) party, stated that the DP’s running mate position is a reserve of the Mt. Kenya region.

“If we (ANC and UDA) decide to work together then there can only be one presidential candidate. We from Mt. Kenya are very categorical that the Deputy President shall come from our region and that hasn’t changed,” stated the nominated Senator.

Deputy President William Ruto (left), ANC leader Musalia Mudavadi (center) and Nairobi Senator Johnson Sakaja at Bomas of Kenya.
Deputy President William Ruto (left), ANC leader Musalia Mudavadi (centre) and Nairobi Senator Johnson Sakaja at Bomas of Kenya on January 23, 2022
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ANC

“You saw yesterday (Sunday) Alice Wahome, Ann Waiguru and Rigathi Gachagua spoke in that order,” Mwaura reiterated.

He went on to hint at a political formation that does not necessarily involve a Ruto and Mudavadi candidature.

“I know our competitors might try to spin it by saying that Mudavadi will play the second fiddle. This alliance is going to be a game-changer and the Mount Kenya region should know their stakes are high in this new arrangement,” Mwaura added.

Curiously, on yet another interview, Kericho Senator Aaron Cheruiyot noted that the DP stepping down for a Mudavadi presidential candidature cannot be ruled out.

“The Deputy President said that we have more at stake to worry about than him or Musalia becoming president. It is possible that William Ruto can step down for Musalia Mudavadi,” Cheruiyot noted.

UDA, ANC and Ford Kenya are set to proceed for joint rallies in Nakuru on Wednesday, before heading to Western Kenya on Friday and the Central region on Saturday.

On Sunday, Ruto made a guest appearance at the ANC event, flanked by a host of UDA allied MP’s.

This occasioned a walkout by One Kenya Alliance (OKA) co-principals Kalonzo Musyoka and Gideon Moi, who cited betrayal by their co-principals courting Ruto.

From Left: Bungoma Senator Moses Wetangula, Senator Gideon Moi, Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka and Kakamega Senator Cleophas Malala at a past event.
From Left: Bungoma Senator Moses Wetangula, Senator Gideon Moi, Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka and Kakamega Senator Cleophas Malala at a past event.
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