Revealed: Intrigues behind selection of Gachagua as Ruto's running mate

Citizen TV has authoritatively established that Rigathi Gachagua was all along the preferred choice of Deputy President William Ruto and the selection process that a classical case of the night of long knives at the deputy president’s official Karen residence was no more than just a mere formality.

A stalemate that lasted over 17 hours, was characterised by failed consensus building, opinion polls that favoured Tharaka Nithi Senator Kithure Kindiki, a college vote of Mt Kenya MPs that Kindiki ran away with but ultimately the pulling of the rag from under Kindiki’s feet followed by the crowning of Gachagua as DP Ruto’s running mate.

The running mate position, as the Deputy President narrated, had attracted 6 hopefuls. These included Kandara MP Alice Wahome, Kiharu MP Ndindi Nyoro, National Assembly Speaker Justin Muturi, Kirinyaga Governor Anne Waiguru, Tharaka Nithi Senator Kithure Kindiki and ultimately the Mathira lawmaker.

But the race went down to the wire between the Kindiki and Gachagua. Sources indicate consensus building on who between the two would deputise Ruto in Kenya kwanza hit a snag.

This was at the center of the 17-hour long deadlock. With consensus efforts bearing no fruit, Ruto and his team resorted to opinion polls conducted internally, to unlock the stalemate.

The first poll conducted internally by a strategy and research team headed by former Cabinet Secretary Davis Chirchir involved 10,000 respondents drawn from 10 Mt. Kenya counties. In that poll, Kindiki trounced Gachagua, with Waiguru coming in third.

In the second survey, conducted nationwide in the 47 counties involved 25,000 respondents. Kindiki yet again emerging top, with Waiguru and Gachagua second and third respectively.

Buoyed by the numerical strength from the polls, Kindiki stood his ground even as Gachagua refused to budge. Central Kenya UDA MPs were called in for a vote. Senator Kindiki once again trounced Gachagua.

Out of the 31 Mt. Kenya UDA MPs present, 22 voted in favour of Kindiki 5 voted for Gachagua, two backed Waiguru, while Muturi obtained one vote, with one rejected vote. 

This emboldened the Tharaka Nithi Senator who had now set his sights on the country’s second most coveted job, should Kenya Kwanza clinch the presidency in August.

Kindiki’s popularity notwithstanding, Gachagua dug in. Unlike Kindiki, Gachagua was accompanied by his wife and was carrying a prepared acceptance speech.

Sources say the mathira mp had quietly secured the assurance of the Deputy President that he was his ultimate choice for the position.

And with DP Ruto’s intervention, the light dimmed on Kindiki’s running mate prospects as it shone in Gachagua’s favour. The Mathira MP claimed to be charismatic, a mobiliser and a great campaigner. This making him topple Kindiki from the pecking order.

None of the participants in the night of intrigues was willing to offer more than passing references of what was a deadlocked process.

Irked by the turn of events and feeling betrayed, Professor Kithure Kindiki skipped the event to unveil Gachagua as Ruto's running mate. Reports now indicate that a section of Central Kenya MPs are seeking audience with deputy president to explain their misgivings with his choice and challenges they forsee in selling the Ruto-Gachagua ticket in the August contest.

Gachagua is considered abrasive and with corruption allegations hanging over his shoulders, the Kenya Kwanza immediate task is to confront the wave of criticism that may be leveled against the wealthy former administrator.