Two governors have joined the long list of Deputy President William Ruto's likely deputies in 2022.
Mwangi Wa Iria (Murang'a) and Wycliffe Oparanya's names prominently featured during political events hosted by leaders from Mt Kenya as well as those from Western regions over the weekend.
The two now brings to three the number county chiefs looking forward to deputising the former Eldoret MP. Already Coast leaders are pushing for Kilifi Governor Amason Kingi to be Ruto's running mate.
According to Murang'a Senator Irungu Kang'ata, Wa Iria offers the best candidate to deputize Ruto in 2022 because he believes in the Central region, it is only Murang'a County which has never produced a high profile politician in the recent past in Kenyan politics.
He said during an event presided over by Deputy President William Ruto at Gaichanjiru High School, Kandara, Murang'a County that the deputy president should consider selecting Wa Iria as his deputy in 2022.
"It is now the turn of Murang'a to produce such a leader," the senator said in the presence of the governor.
"We have waited for long and time is ripe for us. Murang'a is prepared for the challenge," he added.
Other likely contenders for deputy president post in Central include former Gatanga MP Peter Kenneth, former Kiambu Governor William Kabogo, Cabinet Secretary Peter Munya, Tharaka Nithi Senator Prof Kindiki Kithure and Kikuyu MP Kimani Ichung'wa.
In Western, MPs especially from Kakamega have rallied their support for Oparanya to deputise Ruto. However, for this to succeed, Oparanya will have to leave the ODM party and join the party which Ruto will ride on to vie for the presidency.