Kikuyu MP Kimani Ichung’wa is now piling pressure on ODM party leader Raila Odinga to endorse Deputy President William Ruto’s 2022 presidential bid.
Speaking to residents in Kikuyu Town during a development tour on Monday, the Jubilee MP said that Raila should declare support for Ruto since he (Raila) himself will not be contesting in the presidential election come 2022.
He said that Raila and Ruto have a long political history and that it is time for the former prime minister to ‘return the hand’ for the support Ruto gave him in 2007.
“I am pleading with Raila to now declare support for DP Ruto since he (Raila) has personally announced that he will not be contesting in the 2022 polls,” he said.
Ichung’wa said that DP Ruto is the country’s next president, adding that his competitors should brace for a tough battle.
The Kikuyu MP at the same time reiterated Mt Kenya’s support for the Deputy President in 2022. He said that those threatening not to support the DP are not recognized in Mt Kenya.
On Sunday, Raila refuted claims that he will be on the ballot in 2022.
The former prime minister said that he is not interested in 2022 politics and that his agenda is to unite the country.
The ODM leader asked Kenyans to ignore the ongoing distractive 2022 succession politics.