An Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) party legislator now wants Deputy President William Ruto to quit 2022 presidential race.
Rarienda MP Otiende Amollo said although it was Ruto's constitutional right to vie for the top seat, his candidature was opposed to 'majority' of Kenyans and, therefore, he should throw in a towel.
"The DP is eligible to run but in terms of preferability, he ought not to run for the presidency," he said on Tuesday.
Speaking during an interview on NTV, Amollo said it would not be 'fair' for Ruto, a Kalenjin, to seek to take over the State House from President Uhuru Kenyatta, a Kikuyu, since the two ethnic groups have been in power since the independence.
"By 2022, we will have had 60 years since independence with only two tribes having led this country," the MP observed.
Amollo's sentiments are similar to what US-based law scholar Makau Mutua said last week that it would be a step in the direction to elect Ruto upon Uhuru's retirement.
"If William Ruto succeeds Uhuru Kenyatta in 2022, then for 60 years Kenya will have been ruled by men from only two ethnic groups. This isn’t how you build a post-colonial nation. Look to South Africa for useful lessons on managing ethnicity and power in a fractured plural society," Mutua said in a tweet on Thursday.
However, speaking during the same show, former Kakamega Senator Boni Khalwale said Ruto shouldn't be discriminated against due to his ethnicity and expressed optimism that the Jubilee deputy party leader is headed to the State House.
"The Deputy President is the front runner and remains the man to beat in the 2022 general elections," held Khalwale.