Kericho Senator Aaron Cheruiyot has laughed off any possibilities of Amani National Congress (ANC) leader Musalia Mudavadi deputising any presidential candidate in the coming 2022 general election.
These include Deputy President William Ruto who has since declared his bid for the top seat upon the retirement of President Uhuru Kenyatta and who is under pressure from a section of Western Kenya leaders to pick Mudavadi as his running mate.
But according to Cheruiyot, a close confidant of Ruto, Mudavadi remains unfit for the big slot, basing on his weakness at the grass root level.
In an interview on NTV’s AM Live on Tuesday morning, Cheruiyot noted that the former Deputy President would have to consolidate his support base before landing the job.
‘’Musalia Mudavadi should start by consolidating the numbers before thinking of a running mate to be deputy president,’’ he said according to a tweet posted on the program’s feed.
Speaking in Mumias, Kakamega County on Sunday, former Kakamega Senator Boni Khalwale called upon Ruto to consider the Luhya region as he scouts for his deputy, proposing the names of Mudavadi and Senate Speaker Kenneth Lusaka.
He noted that the region has since dumped the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) party leader Raila Odinga-led opposition side for his camp and is therefore justified for an award.
“We have made an early stand and it is well-known that we are supporting your presidency in 2022. Don’t do to us what Nasa leader Raila Odinga did to this community. Pick your running mate from Western,” Khalwale was quoted by the Nation.
Ruto is, however, yet to comment on the demand.