A Senator has told the people of Meru sub-region to forget about producing Deputy President William Ruto's running mate when 2022 comes.
Murang'a Senator Irungu Kangata on Wednesday admitted that it is true the Ameru people have supported their Central Kenya counterparts politically for a long time, but he said that does not mean they will produce the man or woman who will deputise Ruto in 2022.
"I wish the Ameru people well but the seat is remaining in Central and specifically in Murang’a," he said as quoted by Daily Nation.
He spoke as debate raged on about which sub-region in Mt Kenya region will produce a candidate who will be Ruto's running mate when 2022 comes.
Leaders from Meru have been pushing hard for the sub-region to appoint Ruto's running mate because they argue that voters from the Ameru community have since independence supported their Kikuyu counterparts.
Speaking separately to Daily Nation, Tharaka Nithi Senator Prof Kindiki Kithure said it was time Central Kenya supported leaders outside the Kikuyu community in 2022.
"It is time Central Kenya supported us. We have supported them for more than five decades," he told the local daily in an interview.
The leaders spoke as debate rages on over whether Ruto will get backing from Central Kenya region as he moves closer to succeeding President Uhuru Kenyatta.