- Gachagua said most people did not get the correct context of the President's statement.
- He said that what Ruto meant was that they would consider having a woman running mate after the end of his second term.
Image: DPCS
Deputy President Rgathi Gachagua has issued a clarification on President William Ruto's remark on Thursday, that they were considering the possibility of having a woman running mate in future.
Speaking in Embu during the marking of International Women's Day, Gachagua said most people did not get the correct context of the President's statement.
He said that what Ruto meant was that they would consider having a woman running mate after the end of his second term.
The DP affirmed that they are having discussions on how they can have women involved in the country's top leadership.
Gachagua told those who thought the President was talking about the 2027 election will have to wait a little longer.
He added that once Ruto completes his second term, he shall give them direction on how to go about the matter.
"Tutaendelea kuongea vile kule mbele akina mama watashirikishwa katika uongozi kwa serikali kuu wakiwa na nyadhifa ambazo ziko na uzito. Wengine hawakuelewa Rais alisema ataniongelesha tuwapange pale mbele tukimaliza mambo yetu. Walikuwa wanafikiria ni sahii. Lazima mngoje nimsaidie rais kwa kipindi chake ikifika kutamatisha rais mwenyewe atatuongoza na kutuonesha vile tutapanga hawa wamama," Gachagua said.
This loosely translates to, "We will continue to deliberate how in future, women will be involved in the leadership of the government. Others did not understand when the President said that he would talk to me about how we shall organise you when we finish our affairs. They thought it was soon...You must wait for me to help the president during his term, when it comes to an end the president himself will lead us and show us how we will organize these women."
President William Ruto has pledged to ensure his party will have a female deputy president in future.
Speaking during the launch of the G7 Council Women Governors Caucus Strategy event at Safari Park, Ruto said he would sit down with his deputy Rigathi Gachagua and agree that should the party front a man, the running mate must be a woman.
The President said this will ensure his party leads from the front in supporting women and consequently help in attaining the two-thirds gender rule.
“‘Riggy G and myself later on when we discuss our future politics we must also agree that going forward if a man is a candidate for President in our party the woman must be the running mate and if a woman is a candidate then a man can be a running mate,” the President said.
“We will do this not because we want to do anything against men but because we want to balance so that we all move together."
The President said the same rule will be cascaded to counties where men governorship candidates will be required to have women running mates and vice versa.
Ruto said this was an issue that requires support from all party leaders irrespective of their political stance, saying the leaders have been at the forefront of backing women vying for leadership positions.