Kericho Senator Aaron Cheruiyot has revealed that Deputy President Willian Ruto could back Amani National Congress (ANC) party leader Musalia Mudavadi's presidential bid.
While speaking during a radio interview, on Monday, January 24, the ally of the DP stated that there was a possibility for Ruto to drop his ambitions in favour of Mudavadi because of a greater goal they wanted to achieve.
Cheruiyot stated that the goal was to safeguard the democracy of the country adding that the ambitions of the two leaders could match the goal they wanted to achieve.
“The Deputy President in his speech yesterday stated that there is a bigger goal. Bigger than even William Ruto becoming president or even Musalia being president.
“It is a convergence of forces that are rising up to a threat of our democracy which is what is currently happening,” he stated.
The senator explained that the partnership between ANC and the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) was informed by the economic empowerment of Kenyans and the intimidation that leaders within their camps had faced.
“I do not lie. What I am telling you is that we have a bigger threat. There is a certain reality to which these political players are speaking.
“People are being forced and chaperoned to a particular political direction until you wonder if you are in this country anymore. That is a bigger threat to us than who becomes president.
The two-term Senator added that in their new-formed alliance, they would be willing to support Ford Kenya party leader and Bungoma Senator Moses Wetangula if he was the best-suited candidate for the alliance.
“If the arithmetic even happens to favour Moses Wetangula, have it,” he stated.
During the interview, Cheruiyot heaped praise on Mudavadi stating that many leaders in the UDA camp were shocked by his speech asserting that many of them thought that he was not a firm politician.
The newly formed relationship between the DP and Mudavadi has posed a challenge to Ruto who had promised to pick a running mate from the Mt Kenya region.
Speaking at a separate show, Nominated Senator Isaac Mwaura warned Mudavadi against expecting to be picked as Ruto’s running mate. He explained that the slot was reserved for the vote-rich 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,” the nominated Senator stated.
