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Here are the candidates for the Deputy Presidential debate


Four candidates are set to grace the Deputy Presidential Debate in Nairobi on Tuesday.

The eagerly anticipated Debate is set for the Catholic University of Eastern Africa from 5pm.

The four are Martha Wangari Karua (Azimio la Umoja-One Kenya Coalition), Rigathi Gachagua (United Democratic Alliance), Justina Wambui Wamae (Roots Party), and Ruth Mucheru Mutua of Agano Party.

The first-tier debate will feature candidates who have polled less than 5 percent in recent three opinion polls, while the second tier will involve candidates who have polled above 5 percent in three recent opinion polls.

Martha Karua

Karua, born in September 1957, is a seasoned politician who had a stint as Gichugu Member of Parliament. She is also an Advocate of the High Court of Kenya.

She also served as Minister for Justice until resigning from that position in April 2009.

Karua contested for the presidency in 2013 under the Narc-Kenya ticket, becoming the third woman to run for the highest office in the country after Charity Ngilu, and Wangari Maathai in the 1997 elections.

She emerged sixth in the race with 43,881 votes.

Karua is now on the verge of becoming the first female Deputy President in Kenya if her principal Raila Odinga wins in the August election.

Rigathi Gachagua

UDA presidential candidate William Ruto picked Mr Gachagua as his running mate with expectations that with him, he will be able to garner more votes across the country.

Mr Gachagua was born in 1965 in Hiriga village of Mathira Constituency, Nyeri County, being the eighth born child to Nashashon Gachagua Reriani and Martha Kirigo.

Mr Gachagua worked as the Personal Assistant to incumbent President Uhuru Kenyatta between 2001 and 2006. Prior to that he served as a District Officer.

He was elected as a Kenyan MP for Mathira Constituency in 2017 on a Jubilee Party ticket and is now seeking to be the first Deputy President from the Mt Kenya region.

Ruth Wambui

The communication expert who is passionate about fighting corruption in the country is the running mate of David Mwaure Waihiga of the Agano Party.

She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Communication and Sociology from the University of Nairobi.

Justina Wangui

Mrs Wamae is a 35-year-old business lady turned politician who is the running mate of Prof. George Wajackoyah of the Roots Party.

She was selected as the running mate after applying for the position using the CV she used in applying for the Principal Secretary Position after the elections in 2017.

Mrs Wamae joined Daystar University, graduating in 2010 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Management Information Systems.