William Ruto Eying Kalonzo Musyoka as His Running Mate in 2027, New Details Show
- President William Ruto is ready to form new political coalitions ahead of the 2027 General Election
- Political pundits said Ruto will drop Deputy President Kithure Kindiki in his bid to consolidate numbers
- Ruto's inner circle is considering possible candidates who might replace Kindiki, with the possibility that the Mt Kenya region might not vote for Ruto
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Amos Khaemba, a journalist at TUKO.co.ke, brings over four years of experience covering politics and current affairs in Kenya.
Nairobi - President William Ruto appears to be preparing for his 2027 reelection campaign, despite strong opposition efforts to remove him from office.
Source: Facebook
The 2027 presidential race is projected to be a close contest, especially after Ruto broke ranks with his former deputy, Rigathi Gachagua.
KTN News reported that the president has unveiled plans to form new coalitions that could propel him to his reelection.
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Can Kalonzo Musyoka be Ruto's running mate?
The biggest political litmus test facing Ruto as he eyes a second term is the delicate decision of who will be his deputy, with experts predicting that the current deputy president, Kithure Kindiki, is likely to be dropped.
The president's latest political plan includes wooing Wiper Patriotic Front party leader Kalonzo Musyoka
The Kenya Kwanza administration has been dispatching emissaries to court Kalonzo, urging him to join the coalition ahead of the 2027 General Election, with the promise that he will be Ruto's running mate.
Ruto's inner circle is in a dilemma given his dwindling public support compared to the 2022 wave that swept him into the State House.
Details show Ruto's close allies are uncomfortable with Kindiki retaining the seat, given the Mt. Kenya region might not vote for the Kenya Kwanza administration.
"It's a tragedy also for William Ruto to retain and maintain Kindiki. If Mount Kenya is as lost as it is, it will make no sense to retain Kendiki as a running mate," details show.
In 2022, Ruto harvested over 2.9 million votes from the Mount Kenya bloc, dwarfing then-Azimio candidate Raila Odinga's 848,000 votes.
Will Gladys Wanga be Ruto's running mate in 2027?
But with growing resentment in the region, the Kenya Kwanzaa camp has now turned its eyes to the Kamba vote and Wiper party leader Kalonzo Musyoka.
With more than 1.4 million votes in Ukambani, insiders say the plan is to offer Kalonzo the role of running mate, a move aimed at neutralising opposition firepower.
Apart from the Wiper party leader, Ruto is also looking at the possibility of forming an alliance with Raila's ODM party, with Homa Bay Governor Gladys Wanga emerging as a possible pick for the running mate slot.
Ruto is also considering naming a running mate from Western Kenya, with Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi and National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang'ula being the probable candidates.
However, political analyst Herman Manyora said the president might surprise Kenyans by picking a Muslim candidate, a community he says has over 5 million votes.
"If William Ruto is settling on a Western Kenya ticket, how flexible will the region be in ceding position number two to Western Kenya? And just maybe Ruto might throw a surprise to Kenyans. He could go for a Muslim candidate as a running mate. Those are five million votes that can wipe out Mount Kenya supremacists in terms of numbers," Manyora said.
Source: Twitter
Will Kalonzo Musyoka join Ruto's government?
As reported earlier, the Wiper party leader has consistently dismissed any reports of him joining the Kenya Kwanza Alliance administration.
When Kalonzo announced his 2027 presidential bid, he declared that he would not join Ruto's administration.
He further stated that he will not take any position in the government, insisting his conscience and principles prevent him from doing so.
Is Kalonzo the most preferred Opposition candidate?
A recent opinion poll ranked the former vice president as the most preferred presidential candidate among his four competitors in the opposition camp.
The pollster noted that most respondents considered the Wiper Party leader to be more experienced, amiable and mature compared to other opposition leaders.
His ticket alongside former Interior CS Fred Matiang'i was voted as the most preferred and viable partnership to take on Ruto in 2027.
Source: TUKO.co.ke
