Murang'a Senator Irungu Kang'ata has shared details of how Deputy President William Ruto offered him the running mate position but he declined.
Speaking in Nyeri on Saturday, May 22, Kang'ata stated that DP Ruto invited him for a meeting and during their discussion on who would be fit for the running mate post the DP asked him if he can be his second in command.
Kang'ata stated that he rejected the offer noting that there were more seasoned and suitable politicians in their camp for the job.
He told Nyeri residents that he immediately thought of Mathira Member of Parliament Rigathi Gachagua and told DP Ruto that the lawmaker was fit to deputies him.
"His excellency called me and asked me if I wanted to be deputy president and I told him no, pick Rigathi Gachagua," Kang'ata stated.
Earlier Kang'ata, who is eyeing the Murang'a gubernatorial seat, had joked that Gachagua is a strong leader and he knows how to fight physically if Ruto ever needs an extra pair of hands.
DP Ruto thanked Nyeri residents for standing behind Gachagua and he also called out the Azimio La Umoja brigade led by ODM leader Raila Odinga.
The deputy president claimed that Odinga was using his running mate Narc Kenya leader Martha Karua to spearhead campaigns in Central Kenya. Ruto stated that Raila was ‘hiding’ behind Karua to convince the region to vote for him.
“You all know who the leader of Azimio is. It is Raila and he is hiding behind Karua. A vote for Azimio is a vote for ODM and Jubilee parties, you must send them both home,” the DP opined.
“As voters, you all know Raila, and we are here to ask you to send him home on August 9. Vote out all his people including Jubilee and ODM in the region, and give us UDA leaders to work with,” he added.
The deputy president opined that Karua's efforts to sell Raila in Mt Kenya were fruitless since Odinga has a long history of betrayal in politics.
Ruto was accompanied by Gachagua who was joining him on the campaign trail in his backyard for the first time since he was nominated to be his running mate last week.
