Presidential running mates must pass test

Clearly Kenyans must take a keener interest on who those seeking the presidency pick as their running mates in the General Election.

As this newspaper reported, the Deputy President is the man or woman who will fill the shoes of the President in the event that he or she dies or is impeached in the middle of their term.

So far the various self-declared presidential candidates (the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission has not yet clear them, although this is regarded as a fait accompli) are yet to name their running mates.

Clearly, their hesitation is not completely due to their concern for the welfare of the country, but more about using their choices as a campaign tool to win more votes.

Others are more worried about their security as matters of trust also come into play. In any case, and sadly so, it is highly unlikely that most Kenyan politicians would choose people smarter and more educated than themselves, or who are less tainted to be their right hand man or woman, less so in a General Election.

They view things through an ethnic prism and it is therefore left to voters to demand that presidential running mates also meet the same tests of moral and financial probity that they are demanding of presidential candidates.

Much as we wish nobody ill, the country must be prepared for the eventuality of a President leaving officer prematurely due to the reasons mentioned above.

Some of the characters whose names are being floated as potential running mates for various candidates hardly inspire confidence when their past is put under the glare of public scrutiny.