As the 2022 succession debate hots up, the question on the lips of Kenyans is who will be Deputy President William Ruto's running mate when that time comes.
A section of Kenyans is of the opinion that Ruto will pick his running mate from the vote-rich Mt Kenya region. This is due to the raging debate that the region owes Ruto a debt for supporting President Uhuru Kenyatta in the last two elections.
Several politicians from this region have what it takes to deputise Ruto, one of them being Gatundu South Member of Parliament Moses Kuria.
Here are two reasons why Ruto might pick Kuria as his running mate in 2022.
1. Kuria is a close ally of DP Ruto
As it has always been the norm in Kenyan politics, close allies are always rewarded with plum positions. Kuria who happens to be a close ally of DP Ruto will face no resistance if at all he is picked to deputise Ruto.
The vocal MP has always been a defender of DP Ruto especially in the Mt Kenya region where a section of politicians have publicly declared that the DP is not guaranteed of their support in 2022, as they don’t owe him any debt.
Kuria also recently ‘saved’ the DP from his fierce critics after he declared that he had loaned Ruto the rumoured Sh1 billion chopper he has been using to traverse the country.
2. Kuria is influential
Kenyan politics always favours popular individuals and Moses Kuria has made it to the list of top influential politicians in the country.
This will work to his advantage when rallying support for Ruto, especially at the grassroots level.
Kuria has on many occasions accompanied Ruto to rallies where he has publicly declared support for the DP’s 2022 presidential bid. His presence in rallies especially in the central region has seen a large number of people attending the functions.
Kuria, however, is yet to declare interest in being Ruto's running mate come 2022.
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