The endorsement of Deputy President William Ruto to be the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) party’s presidential candidate in the August 9 elections was the first in a long line of his challenges, the most notable one being choosing a running mate.
The running mate dilemma is a political headache that can only be treated with surgery rather than drugs.
Ruto’s top concern is how to deal with fringe parties, particularly those in the Rift Valley, Mount Kenya and Western areas, on whose votes he is counting on but whom he has previously dismissed as “village parties”.
The declaration to work together between Ruto’s UDA and Mudavadi’s Amani National Congress (ANC) ignited discomfort amongst the Mt Kenya brigade allied to UDA who remain adamant that the DP must pick a running mate from the rich-vote basket bloc.
“The Deputy President’s post belongs to Mudavadi for reasons of founding a strong and cohesive contest ticket in the Kenya Kwanza alliance,” said Kakamega Senator Cleophas Malala.
“Western adds a lot of value to the Kenya Kwanza Alliance and Ruto stands a better chance (of winning) with Mudavadi as running mate.”
In the 2017 election, the region, which comprises Kiambu, Murang’a, Nyeri, Kirinyaga, Embu, Meru and Tharaka Nithi counties, boasted of 5.3 million votes which translated to 31 per cent of the 19.6 million registered voters.
Add the vote-rich Mt Kenya diaspora counties of Nakuru, Laikipia and Nyandarua, and to an extent, Nairobi, and you will understand why the allure of the Gikuyu nation is irresistible in the race for the country’s top office.