Deputy President William Ruto with Kwale governor Salim Mvurya in a past event. Political analyst Peter Ngure says that Mvurya could be fronted as DP Ruto’s deputy in 2022. [Photo/nation.co.ke]
The push by President Uhuru Kenyatta that saw Kwale Governor Salim Mvurya elected as the Council of Governors (COG) chairperson could be a move to have him deputise William Ruto in 2022.
This is according to political analyst Peter Ngure.
According to Ngure, governor Mvurya could deputise Ruto in the race basing on the relationship he has created with Jubilee since he decamped from the opposition in 2015.
In an interview on Monday, the analyst observes that the election of Mvurya as COG boss after the expiry of Turkana Governor Josphant Nanok’s term is a political strategy that could see him join national politics.
The analyst observes that Ruto could opt for Mvurya on Uhuru’s advice in order to marshal support from the Coast region that is considered an opposition stronghold.
He observes that Mvurya who ditched ODM in 2015 could hand him massive Coast votes in 2022.
“The possibility of governor Mvurya being fronted to deputize Ruto in 2022 cannot be ignored, his election as COG boss and his close association with president Uhuru cannot Kenyatta cannot also be ignored,” he said.
The analyst also noted that Jubilee could use Mvurya to put off secession calls being pushed by a section of Coast politicians.
Mvurya was elected as COG boss during the governor’s induction in Kwale County that ended on Saturday last week.
The jubilee governor will take over from the current chairman Nanok whose term expires in six months.
Mvurya will be deputized by Kirinyaga governor Ann Waiguru as alignment and 2022 succession politics starts taking shape.
Mvurya is serving his last term s governor and has not hinted don his next step after his term ends in 2022.
Already several politicians among them Machakos Governor Alfred Mutua, Anne Waiguru and others are being fronted as possible running mates for DP Ruto who will be contesting for the presidential seat in the 2022 general election.