A storm seems to be brewing in Kenya Kwanza Alliance over the running-mate position pitting William Ruto’s Mt Kenya allies on one hand and the ANC party of Musalia Mudavadi on the other hand.
This comes after Musalia Mudavadi’s party has castigated Mathira MP Rigathi Gachagua over his remarks that the ANC leader will not be selected as William Ruto’s running mate in the August 9 presidential election.
In a statement on Monday, Monday, February 28, the ANC Secretary General Simon Gikuru, said Gachagua has no power to speak for their Kenya Kwanza Alliance.
“Rigathi Gachagua has no authority to speak for Kenya Kwanza on the matter hence his sentiments are premature, untimely, and unwarranted, ” Gikuru said.
The Amani National Congress party further stated that Kenya Kwanza Alliance is yet to decide on its presidential and running mate candidates.
“This will happen and be unveiled at an appropriate time by our principals Musalia, Ruto, and Moses Wetangula,” Gikuru added.
But taking to Twitter former Kakamega Senator Boni Khalwale said the naming of a running mate is the prerogative of the presidential candidate and no one else.
“Appointment of a running mate in a Presidential Election is strictly the prerogative of the Presidential Candidate. The emergence of any protagonists within the Kenya Kwanza Alliance, on this matter, should be ignored and or be treated as purely academic.” Khalwale said.
Speaking on the Citizen TV morning program on Monday, February 28, Gachagua had said that DP Ruto is the outright presidential candidate for Kenya Kwanza Alliance and that he will be unveiled on March 15.
The Mathira MP had also ruled out the possibility of the ANC leader and his Ford Kenya counterpart Moses Wetang’ula being Ruto’s running mate.
“As far as I am concerned there is a general consensus that William Ruto is our Candidate and the running mate will come from Mt Kenya,” Gachagua said.
The outspoken Ruto ally had pointed out that even Musalia Mudavadi is aware of the arrangement that had reserved a running-mate slot for the Mt Kenya region.
“When they came for discussion, we were very forthright with Musalia and Wetang’ula. They were told that we have already our own discussion and we have agreed that the running mate is for the mountain so as you come it’s good that you know and they came with that knowledge,” Gachagua stated.
