Devise better ways of picking running mates

Deputy President William Ruto congratulates Mathira MP Rigathi Gachagua moment after declaring him his running mate in the forthcoming August polls. [David Njaaga, Standard]

Kenya Kwanza alliance unveiled Rigathi Gachagua as its deputy president designate for the August 9, 2022 general election. He will be Deputy President William Ruto’s running mate against the Azimio team whose presidential flag bearer is Raila Odinga. His running mate will be unveiled today.

Kenya Kwanza was initially set to announce Ruto’s running mate on Saturday but internal jostling and discontent rendered it impossible to do so until yesterday. Even then, it took intense lobbying and jostling to name a running mate. Due to such push and pull, we must come up with a structured way of choosing running mates to avoid infighting and feelings of exclusion. To some extent, it is clear that our choices are based on factors such loyalty to party leaders, one’s contribution to campaigns, ethnic numerical strength and regionalism, among others.