Nairobi News

A public tussle has ensued within the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) ranks over Deputy President William Ruto’s potential running mate ahead of the August 2022 polls.

On Monday, Musalia Mudavadi, Ruto’s newest politically ally, hit out at Rigathi Gachagua after the Mathira lawmaker publicly suggested Mudavadi would not be considered for the running mate position.

Mudavadi, who recently joined Ruto after a fallout with President Uhuru Kenyatta, Raila Odinga, Kalonzo Musyoka, and Gideon Moi, is, alongside Gachagua, considered the front runners for the running mate role in their political coalition dubbed Kenya Kwanza.

“Kenya Kwanza Alliance has not decided on its presidential and running mate candidates. This will happen and be unveiled at an appropriate time by principles, Musalia Mudavadi. William Ruto and Moses Wetangula,” read a statement by Mudavadi’s Amani National Congress (ANC) political outfit.

“Our primary objective as Kenya Kwanza is to bring together the United Democratic Alliance (UDA), Amani National Congress (ANC), and Ford-Kenya political parties so as to erase ethnic animosity through mature politics devoid for toxic divisive narratives.”

“In this regard Hon. Gachagua has no authority to speak for Kenya Kwanza on this matter hence his sentiments are premature, untimely, and unwarranted.”

Mudavadi’s statement is viewed as a response to Gachagua who’d suggested in a TV interview that Mudavadi ‘knew’ he would not be Ruto’s running mate.

“We will soon unveil William Ruto as our presidential candidate. What I can assure you is that the running mate will come from the mountain,” opined Gachagua.

“We’ve had discussions with the two leaders and we were forthright with them that the running mate will be from the mountain.”

This statement technically knocks Mudavadi out of the equation as he is not from the mountain. Rather, he is from Western Kenya.

Incidentally, Mudavadi is currently accompanying the DP in a tour of the USA and United Kingdom with Gachagua missing out.