Good morning,
Mudavadi on Sunday, January 23, announced that he will work with Deputy President William Ruto heading to the August elections.
Speaking in Nakuru on Wednesday, DP Ruto revealed that his party, United Democratic Alliance (UDA), Moses Wetangula’s Ford Kenya and Mudavadi’s Amani National Congress(ANC) will work under one umbrella called Kenya Kwanza.
This development, however, mounted pressure on the deputy President to pick a running mate from Mt.Kenya as it was perceived ANC leader would be the natural running mate.
Senator Isaac Mwaura an ally of the second-in-command’s UDA party, stated that the DP’s running mate position is a reserve of the Mt. Kenya region.
“If we (ANC and UDA) decide to work together then there can only be one presidential candidate. We from Mt. Kenya are very categorical that the Deputy President shall come from our region and that hasn’t changed,” stated the nominated Senator.
The DP appeared to have cowed to pressure as the sentiment seemed to be relayed by a majority of his supporters from the Mt. Kenya region.
He is thus, expected to hold a meeting at the Mumbi Grounds on Sunday, February 6, which those in the know saying it will be used to finally unveil his running mate and possible deputy after the August poll.
An MP from the region said that this will be the moment Kenyans have been waiting for, with a UDA leader from the Mt Kenya region claiming that it has been decided who will take the position.
It is alleged by the MP in reports that Kiharu MP Ndindi Nyoro will be unveiled as the running mate ruling out chances of Mathira MP Rigathi Gachagua being named due to his advanced age.
It has also been seen as a tactical decision after Raila is seen to have settled on Peter Kenneth who is expected to garner votes from the old folks while Nyoro is expected to reap many votes from the youths.
Who do you think DP Ruto will name as his running mate at the Mumbi grounds and why?
Meanwhile, here are stories making headlines on Opera News today:
We Won’t Take NHIF Cards from Monday, Private Hospitals Declare
Private hospitals may not offer services to some members of the National Health Insurance Fund beginning Monday.
The Kenya Association of Private Hospitals said they cannot accept the heavily reduced rates that the fund has imposed on them.
KAPH chairman Dr Abdi Mohamed told the Star NHIF has failed to honour talks with the facilities.
“There has been no stakeholder engagement on the proposed rates. So unfortunately we cannot give services under those rates,” Abdi said.
Raila’s Dilemma As Fresh Intel Reveals 2 Running Mate Candidates Being Forced On Him & It’s Not Karua
The issue of who will be the running mate for ODM leader Raila Odinga remains a mystery with several leaders expressing their interest in the position. Deputy President William Ruto is also facing a similar task as he looks to replace President Uhuru Kenyatta.
The two leading candidates are expected to pick their running mates from the vote-rich Mt Kenya region because of the huge voting block that the region boasts.
For the first time since 1992, the Mt Kenya region will not have a serious presidential candidate since the advent of multi-party politics. The region has now become the kingmakers.
UDA Leader Says Gachagua is Too Old, Alleges Man Who’ll be Named Ruto’s Running Mate on 6th
Kenyans should await a big announcement from Deputy President William Ruto and his UDA brigade on February 6, Murang’a Senator Irungu Kang’ata, a close ally of the DP, has said.
Ruto is on the mentioned date expected to hold a meeting at the Mumbi Grounds, which those in the know say will be used to finally unveil his running mate and possible deputy after the August poll.
An MP from the region said that this will be the moment Kenyans have been waiting for, with a UDA leader from the Mt Kenya region claiming that it has been decided who will take the position.