Kenya Kwanza Alliance presidential running mate Rigathi Gachagua has likened picking a running mate to picking a wife.

This Gachagua said while speaking during an interview with a local radio station on Tuesday.

During the interview, the Mathira MP revealed far from the common understanding that Kenya Kwanza used a voting process to select him as Deputy President William Ruto’s running mate there was none.

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He termed those allegations that votes were cast as lies and said Ruto picked him after consulting Kenya Kwanza Alliance leaders.

Rigathi Gachagua. PHOTO/COURTESY

"These are outright lies, no votes were cast,  you cannot stop people from saying what they want, a running mate is like a wife. People cannot cast votes in order for you to get you a wife because in the end, you are the one to live with her," Gachagua said. 

Gachagua added that the issue of picking a running mate is personal and Ruto was searching for a principled friend, a worker and resolute in his running mate and one who shared his vision.

"The issues of a running mate are very personal, DP Ruto was looking for a worker, a friend, someone who is principled and resolute, he wanted his running mate to have the same vision as he does, to change the lives of Kenyans," Gachagua said.

Rigathi Gachagua and William Ruto. PHOTO/COURTESY

In a twist of narrative, Gachagua alleged that he and Kithure Kindiki approached Ruto and assured him they would respect his decision since they knew the responsibility to pick a running mate lay solely on his hands.

" Kindiki and I went to DP Ruto and told him that there was no need for tension and that we would support whatever decision he arrived at," Gachagua claimed.

He also said Kindiki is his friend and would have supported him if he was picked as Ruto’s running mate.

Kithure Kindiki. PHOTO/TWITTER

The picking of the Kenya Kwanza Alliance running mate came after protracted talks that went over 24 hours, as the parties involved could not agree on a candidate forcing the outfit to postpone the announcement of the candidate.

Sources said the process was subjected to polls and Kindiki emerged the winner of the polls.