Politicians from the vote-rich Mt Kenya region have vowed to support a presidential candidate who will guarantee them the deputy president post in the highly anticipated 2022 presidential election.
The Mt Kenya parties’ forum that has been holding its weekly consultative meetings on Monday, September 13, said it will only back a presidential candidate who will pick a deputy from the region.
“The position of deputy president coming from Mt Kenya region is not negotiable,” the caucus which brought together Gatundu South MP Moses Kuria, Martha Karua (Narc Kenya), Mwangi Kiunjuri (The Service Party), former Kiambu Governor William Kabogo, and ex-legislator Peter Kenneth said as quoted by KTN News.
The caucus which has been rooting for Mt Kenya unity ahead of the 2022 General Election said the huge voting bloc has no preferred presidential candidate despite having dictated on who becomes the president for years.
This is despite the fact that at least five 2022 presidential hopefuls including businessman Jimmy Wanjigi hail from the Mt Kenya region.
Apart from the deputy president post, the group said that sharing of the positions in the Executive, Legislature, State Corporations, and Ambassadorial positions must reflect the voting strength of Mt Kenya region both in terms of number and portfolio balance.
It is understood that none of all the 2022 presidential hopefuls has picked his running mate but ANC leader Musalia Mudavadi recently hinted at picking his running mate from the Mt Kenya region.
“There’s a lot of experience in the region. They are people who love doing business and can contribute a lot to the economy and the nation. So, I’m not saying no, there’s a possibility,” said on Inooro FM.
Kenya’s deputy president William Ruto and ODM leader Raila Odinga who are being considered front runners in the race for State House have been pitching tents in the Mt Kenya region with reports insinuating that they will too pick a running mate from central for them to have a share of the votes.
Already Moses Kuria associated with Chama Cha Kazi and former Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Mwangi Kiunjuri have offered themselves to deputise William Ruto ahead of the 2022 General Election.