It is now getting clear that there is no one who can beat Ruto in the 2022 succession race. It is just not possible for any serious person to cover the ground that the DP has covered.
But questions still linger on who will become his Deputy. Who will occupy the Harambee Annex office after 2022? Ruto’s choice of running mate depends on several factors.
Below are some of the candidates who have impressed and could easily be Vice President of Kenya in 2022:
Anne Waiguru
The Kerinyaga governor is the bookmarker’s favorite to be Ruto’s running mate. She is one of only three female governors and the only one from Mt. Kenya region.
Last year, IPSOS said that Ruto and Waiguru are the two most corrupt Kenyans in history. They can decide to use that as their main campaign strategy just like Uhuruto used ICC in 2013.
Wycliffe Musalia Mudavadi
We have had several times that the DP is not guaranteed Mt. Kenya votes, which is so interesting considering the fact that he was considered a hero in 2013 and 2017. This also means that Ruto might have to consider his option for running mate and who better than Mudavadi?
Mudavadi has been interested in the presidency for about a decade. He has however not managed to convince fellow top job aspirants to back him.
William Kabogo
Ambitious Kiambu County Ex-Governor is considered as someone who is fit to succeed President Kenyatta. This is owing to his firm and aggressive nature. The biggest challenge is that the narrative “why a Kikuyu all the time” won’t let him garner a significant number of votes.
Knowing this too well, the Kikuyu nation will negotiate a Deputy President position for him or any other Kikuyu son. It can’t be ruled out that William Kabogo could go for the presidency and not the Deputy President’s position.
Peter Kenneth
PK, as he’s popularly known, has not been consistent in his quest for presidency. In the March 2013 general election, he ran for the presidency but failed. He would go silent for some 4 years only to resurface in the year 2017 with the intention to succeed HE Evans Odhiambo Kidero who was then the Nairobi County Governor.
He joined Jubilee Party only to be defeated by Sonko during the party primaries. It’s thought that Jubilee fraternity had not forgotten that in the 2013 polls, PK ran against Kenyatta hence “dividing” Kikuyu nation’s vote. He had to be taught a political lesson for going against the political grain. He would go on to vie for Nairobi gubernatorial seat on an independent ticket. He still lost. Since there are no permanent friends or enemies in politics, he could still be William Ruto’s running mate.
Mwangi Wa Iria
Murang’a County boss could also be fronted by Mt. Kenya region for the running mate position. However, he has a lesser national appeal compared to William Kabogo.
His impeccable performance as Murang’a County governor would make him impressive and suitable to the presidential aspirants and Kenyans.