Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua on Sunday, March 12, revealed that he swiped the age card to convince Interior Cabinet Secretary to bow out from the running mate race ahead of the August 2022 polls.
Speaking during a thanksgiving service in Tharaka Nithi, Gachagua revealed President William Ruto, then the candidate for the top seat instructed them to agree on who would deputise him.
This came after hours of trying to determine who was the best pick since both the DP and Kindiki had the qualities of his ideal deputy.
"The President had been trying to make a decision for 17 hours and it boiled down to Kindiki and myself. I am thorough, he is thorough, I am trustworthy, and so is he.
"Ruto told us to sit down and talk. I told him that I was older than him and asked him to leave it for me," Gachagua intimated.
However, he promised Kindiki that he would reward him if Kenya Kwanza won the election, and that was how the CS landed the Interior Ministry.
"I vowed to reward him with a powerful office, and did it not happen? And I am advising you (Kindiki) to work closely with the President and myself because your future is bright," the DP remarked.
Meanwhile, Gachagua pledged his full support for Kindiki over his handling of insecurity in the country, especially with the bandit menace.
"Kindiki has not disappointed Ruto and me. He works hard and is committed and we support you and when you succeed, because you must, you would have made a name for the people of Tharaka," he remarked.
The DP warned his boss against giving in to the demands by Azimio Chief Raila Odinga who declared mass action following the lapse of the 14-day deadline he gave the Kenya Kwanza government.
He maintained that Raila did not take part in forming the government and should not be given any seat, despite the alleged arm-twisting.
The DP however welcomed former Meru ex-governor Kiraitu Murungi to the government and promised to secure him a position.
