Murang’a Woman Representative Sabina Chege has revealed that numbers in terms of registered voters, will be key in picking the presidential running mate to the ODM leader Raila Odinga for the forthcoming August polls.
Speaking on an NTV night program on Tuesday, May 3, Chege said that Raila’s victory can only be guaranteed if his running mate has numbers.
“Numbers are very important among many things; commitment, experience future ambition…Numbers at the end of the day are the ones which will deliver victory.”Chege said.
Giving an example of 2013 and 2017 when the Mt Kenya region contributed more than 50 of the total votes cast to President Uhuru Kenyatta’s victory, Chege said the region will be key in determining whoever wins the August polls.
“Facts are stubborn, Mt Kenya gave Uhuruto more than 52% votes in 2013 and 50% in 2017. So whoever is going to be president whether, from Azimio or Kenya Kwanza, you can not afford to ignore Mt Kenya,” Chege added.
Charge further opined that the final decision on whoever becomes the running mate lies squarely with the Azimio presidential candidate.
She noted that the presidential running mate vetting panel that was recently formed will only make recommendations but Raila has the power to make independent decisions.
“This is not to mean they will force the presidential candidate to pick the person that they recommend, the final decision is going to be made by the presidential candidate.” She noted.
Charge who is also a member of the Azimio la Umoja-One Kenya governing council faulted the Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka for opposing the decision of the council of which he was part.
“Kalonzo and some of us were in that meeting, if he was forced as they are trying to show, he should not have appointed a representative to the panel,” Chege said.
