Kericho Senator Aaron Cheruiyot has dismiss claims that DP William Ruto is assured of being an automatic presidential candidate in 2022.

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Dr Ruto has been traversing the country for months now and he's believed to be among top favourites to succeed President Uhuru Kenyatta.

Throughout his trips however, Dr Ruto has often maintained that he's interested in rolling out Jubilee agenda, arguing that he's not in campaign mood.

At Kerumbe on Sunday during the burial of Mzee Stephen Mogeni, Mr Cheruiyot however, insisted that Dr Ruto will have to battle out with other aspirants or form coalitions.

"Bwana Ben Momanyi, the truth is, if there is something who need not to be told about Dr Fred Matiang'i, then it's me. I know him at a personal level," he said.

Cheruiyot added: "We know you have your candidate then we also have ours. But when that time comes, we shall sit down and agree who we should back."

A section of Gusii leaders have been pushing for Dr Matiang'i's candidature in 2022 even though he's yet to publicly announce bid to succeed President Uhuru Kenyatta.

Recently, ODM leader Raila Odinga asked Gusii leaders to go slow on the debate, arguing that the team allied to Dr Ruto could use it to sabotage the handshake.

"I know Dr Matiang'i. He's like my son. Let's stop piling pressure on him. There will be no difference between us and them. When the right time comes, we shall see what to do."

During the funeral, Gusii leaders pledged to work together as a team. Mzee Mogeni, an uncle to Senator Okong'o Mogeni, is credited for building first private tea factory in Gusii.

Earlier, Cheruiyot had claimed that Dr Matiang'i met DP Ruto during impeachment threats over Ruaraka land saga, a claim the super CS dismissed as propaganda.

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