Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka's bid to deputise former Prime Minister Raila Odinga ahead of the August 9 General Election has received a shot in the arm.
In a statement dated May 4 and signed by its leader Gideon Moi, the Kenya African National Union (KANU), endorsed Musyoka for the position.
The letter addressed to the Azimio la Umoja Selection Panel explained that Kalonzo is the most qualified person for the position given his background in governance.
"The Kenya National African Union (KANU) hereby proposes and submits the name of H.E Hon Stephen Kalonzo as its preferred candidate for the position of Deputy President in the forthcoming General Election.
"It is our considered opinion and strongly believes that H.E Hon Stephen Kalonzo fits the bill and is the most suitable individual to deputize H.E Right Hon Raila Amolo Odinga," read the statement in part.
This comes just days after Kalonzo vowed that he would not present himself for an interview arguing that he was the most qualified individual to occupy the position.
The former Vice President's allies had argued that Kalonzo was being mistreated despite the fact that his party filled up the last half of the coalition's name - Azimio One Kenya Alliance coalition.
Kalonzo is in the running for the position alongside other seasoned politicians among them former Presidential aspirant Martha Karua, Kitui Governor Charity Ngilu and Peter Kenneth.
Karua has been touted as the front runner, as Odinga seeks to charm the Mt Kenya region, which seemingly does not have a strong candidate.
The NARC Kenya leader recently accompanied Raila to the US and she is now selling Azimio in Central, after shelving her bid and throwing her weight behind the former Prime Minister.
The process to select Raila's suitable running mate is currently underway. On Wednesday, the Azimio la Umoja One Kenya Alliance advisory panel gave the parties within the coalition a 24-hour ultimatum to forward the names of preferred candidates.
The team will deliberate its choice on Thursday, May 10 after which they will forward the name of the candidate to Raila, the alliance's presidential contender.
Both Azimio and the Kenya Kwanza alliance are working to beat the May 16 deadline for submitting names of presidential candidates and their deputies set by the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC).
