Ruto unlikely to abandon Gachagua despite proposal on female presidential running mate

President William Ruto and his deputy Rigathi Gachagua. [File, Standard]

Divergent opinions have emerged following a recent statement by President William Ruto that the 2027 election should be the crucible in which the elusive gender equality will be achieved. Ruto was in Embu to honour International Women's Day.

Essayists, opinionists and even idlers and layabouts have since not slept soundly as they seek to go through the president's announcement for what it could imply should it be implemented. The first thing that shoots to the fore is the president has little hope in Parliament clinching the two-thirds gender rule, and he could be vouching for other avenues to achieve it.

This was top of UDA's campaign promises and the president wants to be remembered as the one who promised, and delivered, unlike his predecessors. Notably, the president did invoke the name of his deputy in his proposal, saying they had indeed sat and agreed on the nitty gritty. What this means is that come 2027, a woman candidate will be handpicked for the DP's post.

But come 2032, a hitherto taciturn Rigathi will evolve from the woodwork and slug it out with the female DP for the top seat. The current 'predictions' are feeding on the fodder that the female DP will not be a big hindrance to Gachagua's presidential dreams. Sometimes, though, matters do not always obey the orders.

The chip from the president's mind has, however, fitted in the bill of opposition mandarins, more so from the Mountain region like a square peg in a square hole. They see this as the last straw on the central region's back as the UDA's aristocracy seeks to annihilate the region just like the Jews in Germany during the Gestapo.

The other thing at play has everything to do with the amount of comfort Ruto has with the DP, who is just a breath away from the presidency. From the public eye, the DP comes on as a staunch loyalist to his boss. The guiding star in all this, however, is that the president has never been one to betray his foot soldiers; he has previously promised them tokens after his 2022 victory and delivered.

Likewise, he would be the last to toss his deputy under the bus, come rain or sunshine, even if the proposed changes in law could otherwise book the DP a spot right under the bus. The next hurdle will most likely be to guess, and, or suggest the likely female who could deputise the president in 2027, should pull come to push. Agreeably, this will not be the first time that this gender equation will be dangled to the public, it is an idea whose time cannot be put on hold.