The battle for running mate position ahead of 2022 polls seems to have thrilled Mt Kenya region, which has apparently produced three of Kenya's four presidents.
With possibility of the region fielding a successor to President Uhuru Kenyatta being almost impossible, political leaders are now keen to lobby for Deputy President slot.
Former Runyenjes MP Cecily Mbarire on Friday led other leaders from the larger Embu County in pushing for National Assembly Speaker Justine Muturi to be Dr William Ruto's running mate.
According to her, Mt Kenya East people have supported those from Central Kenya for long and thus there is a need to reciprocate in 2022 the support they have offered for decades.
"Wakati wa 2022 umekaribia na lazima tiongee siasa kwa sababu si mbali. Hata hawa watoto watakuwa na kura 2022, ni kweli au si kweli? Ndo maana tumewaletea school bus ndo wasome kama JB Muturi. Tunasema kiti ya deputy president tunataka mtu wetu kutoka Embu anaitwa JB Muturi.
"Tunauliza wenzetu kutoka Central Kenya watuunge mkono. Tumewashikilia miaka mingi sana. Tutaunga Ruto mkono na tunamwambia pia yeye ashikilie Muturi," she said.
("The 2022 polls are just around the corner and we have to speak about them. And even these kids here might be voters that's why we brought them school bus so that they can get educated like JB Muturi. The Deputy President seat now belongs to us and it's Muturi."
(We request our brothers from Central Kenya to support us for the bid. We have supported them for long and it's time they reciprocate. We are all supporting Dr Ruto and we request him to also back Muturi).
While Ruto, who is at pole position to succeed President Uhuru, has remained mum about his preferred running mate, several Jubilee politicians are keen to have him picking them.
Last month, Kirinyaga Governor Ann Waiguru, a close ally of DP William Ruto, claimed that she had been approached by two presidential aspirants to deputise them. She comes from Central Kenya region.
“I have at least two offers for the deputy president position, but it is not the right time to name the parties,” she said in an exclusive interview with the Nation.
Also keen to deputise Ruto from Mt Kenya region are Mwangi Kiunjuri, Ferdinand Waititu, Mwangi wa Iria, Kithure Kindiki and Meru Governor Kiraitu Murungi. Kikuyu MP Kimani Ichungwah is also interested.