Pick your deputies now, Kiunjuri asks Ruto, Raila

Former Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Mwangi Kiunjuri has asked 2022 presidential aspirants to swiftly pick their running mates.

Kiunjuri, who is also the leader of the Service Party, said settling on deputies early enough would give Kenyans adequate time to scrutinise them.

Kiunjuri, a former confidant of Deputy President William Ruto, said by now, Kenyans should be knowing who is grooming who to run alongside them.

The 2022 presidential contest is shaping into a two-horse race between Ruto and ODM boss Raila Odinga, eight months to the general election.

Kiunjuri cautioned the aspirants to carefully choose their deputies to avoid the current scenario where the president publicly fights with his deputy.

He said leaders must get the backing of other communities and get deputies that they can harmoniously work with.

“What is happening now is that leaders were not grounded properly. They just came together for the purpose of winning an election,” he said.

He added that history may repeat itself if the aspirants pick deputies they have no history of working with.

Kiunjuri said by now, the aspirants know the kind of deputies they want and should pick them and introduce them to Kenyans.

“Or maybe they just want to pick deputies that they can intimidate or impeach as they wish, deputies who will be like flower girls in their government,” Kiunjuri added.

He said it is the high time Kenyans looked at the candidates holistically and focus more on their abilities and plans in order to have leaders elected on merit.

Kiunjuri, who spoke in Kandara while attending a burial ceremony on Saturday, said Kenyans should also not allow parties to dictate who they elect as MPs, senators, MCAs or governors, saying that decision should be left to voters.

“This is why as a party we are asking Kenyans to look at programmes and policies being pushed by leaders before they decide who to vote for,” he said.

As MPs prepare to debate Political Parties (Amendment) Bill this week, Kiunjuri said parties will have little time to form coalitions, with the new law requiring that coalition agreements be submitted at least six months to the elections.

Kiunjuri said with time running out, the Mt Kenya region needs to be cautious in order to make decisions that steer it in the right direction.

“We know we don’t have a strong candidate that we can sell to other regions which means the race may have only a few candidates." Kiunjuri said.

"As TSP, we have decided that we must vet aspirants keenly to support those with a vision and a record of development.” 

He said there is little that aspirants can pledge that has not already been promise before and what remains is to get a leader who will ardently implement them.

Murang’a, for example, is an agricultural county which  depends on milk, coffee and tea for its economic survival.

The sector, Kiunjuri said, thrived during the first government (Jomo Kenya administration) and residents were living comfortable lives and were able to comfortably educate their children.

But during former President Daniel Moi’s era, the achievements made in the sector were reversed and residents reduced to poverty.

The economy got a boost during Mwai Kibaki’s era, he said, adding that President Uhuru Kenyatta has effected major developments that can be seen by all.

“We want a president who will do what Uhuru has been unable to do but should be careful not to elect somebody who will reverse the strides made," Kiunjuri said.

“When we transition into the new government, as a region, we want assurances on what will get after supporting the candidates,” he added.

He said that the TSP party is focusing on popularising the party and getting as many candidates as possible before it decides if it will enter into elections coalitions.

(edited by Amol Awuor)