Home » Rigathi Gachagua: Picking presidential running mate is like picking a wife

Rigathi Gachagua: Picking presidential running mate is like picking a wife

by Enock Ndayala

Mathira MP Rigathi Gachagua has defended the decision of Deputy President William Ruto to nominate him as his 2022 presidential running mate.

While likening the decision by presidential hopefuls to pick their running mates to a marriage where one decides who to marry, Gachagua said the decision on who to be deputy president is a candidate’s personal decision.

“It is a personal decision by the presidential aspirant … so it is someone well known, compatible, who shares the same ideals, with proven value for friendship … that is how I defeated them,” the Kenya Kwanza presidential running mate said in an interview with Inoro TV on Tuesday, May 24.

Mathira MP Rigathi Gachagua has defended the decision of Deputy President William Ruto to nominate him as his 2022 presidential running mate.
Mathira MP Rigathi Gachagua has defended the decision of Deputy President William Ruto to nominate him as his 2022 presidential running mate.

On Sunday, May 15, the 2022 presidential election front runner William Ruto named Gachagua as his presidential running mate.

Just like some wives come in and divide some of the families, Gachagua admitted that his selection by the coalition’s presidential aspirant William Ruto has divided a section of the Mt Kenya leaders allied to Kenya Kwanza between the Mt Kenya East and west.

“I had led these people (Mt Kenya politicians) for four years and we were okay then … We related like brothers and sisters … we differed when this seat (running-mate) came up for grabs,” the outspoken lawmaker said.

While admitting that Tharaka Nithi Senator Kithure Kindiki had defeated him in the votes cast in search for William Ruto’s 2022 presidential running mate, Gachagua said he was picked because he was more compatible than Kindiki.

It was widely reported that Kindiki garnered 24 out of the 30 votes that were cast at the official residence of Deputy President William Ruto in Karen.

Kindiki comes from Mt Kenya East while Rigathi Gachagua hails from the west of the Mt Kenya.

Gachagua however said he said he is now busy uniting the leaders “and they have accepted me as their deputy team leader and the ultimate Mt Kenya team captain”.

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