Infighting rocks UDA camp over DP William Ruto’s running mate position

There has been infighting in the UDA party’s inner ranks as various politicians from Central Kenya position themselves to be Deputy President William Ruto’s running mate in 2022.

The battle guns have been drawn by top politicians both behind the scenes and in public for a chance to be the next Deputy President, if Ruto wins the next general election.

Rigathi Gachagua. PHOTO/COURTESY

The biggest fight that has played out in the recent week is the one between Mathira MP Rigathi Gachagua and Gatundu South MP Moses Kuria, who is fresh from winning the Juja parliamentary by-election with his outfit PEP.

On Monday last week, a billboard of Ruto, Gachagua and Kiambaa Constituency’s UDA parliamentary candidate John Njuguna Wanjiku near Village Market was brought down, only for another featuring Ruto, Kuria and Wanjiku to be brought up on Kiambu Road.

Moses Kuria and William Ruto. PHOTO/COURTESY

Both camps remained mum on their row for the better part of the week, only coming out at the end of the week for a hurriedly arranged session to paint the picture of a united front.

But party insiders revealed to Swala Nyeti that Gachagua is using his financial might to get the DP’s nod as his running mate while Kuria boasts of having a wider backing in Central Kenya sufficient to propel Ruto to State House.

William Ruto and Mwangi Kiunjuri. PHOTO/COURTESY

Others in Ruto’s camp also eyeing the running mate post and are plotting behind the scenes include former Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Mwangi Kiunjuri and Kikuyu MP Kimani Ichung’wa.

Kimani Ichung'wa, John Kiarie and Rigathi Gachagua. PHOTO/COURTESY

Dagoretti South MP John Kiarie is also rumoured to be interested in being Ruto’s running mate through he has largely been silent about his ambitions as the others put their cards on the table.