Deputy President William Ruto has suggestively dismissed the idea of picking his 2022 running mate from Western Kenya despite the mounting pressure.
At Turbo constituency on Friday, former Kakamega Senator Bonnie Khalwale inisited that Ruto's ascendancy to power will be easy should he pick a running mate from the populous Western Kenya.
"Please bwana Deputy President, kindly tell our friends from other regions that you'll pick a running mate from here. We have more votes than them and if you pick a deputy from here, you'll win easily," he said.
Ruto is facing pressure from several regions over running mate position among them Western, Central, Upper Eastern, Coast and Nyanza.
And in a polite response, Ruto raised issues about region balance, arguing that Western Kenya borders his Rift Valley stronghold.
"From here to Kakamega is just three or so kilometres. How do you explain that we are not one people with such a distance? Let's stop these divisive politics," he said.
A section of leaders from Central Kenya led by Kiambu Governor Ferdinand Waititu had insisted that the running mate will automatically go to the region.
Waititu said: "Let's not lie to one another. We are also waiting for the position more than anything else. Just be informed."
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