Tharaka Nithi Senator Kithure Kindiki now says that miscommunication and a scheduling conflict are to blame for his absence during the Sunday unveiling of Rigathe Gachagua as Deputy President William Ruto’s running mate.
Kindiki further noted that when he left DP Ruto’s Karen residence in the wee hours of Sunday morning, the DP had already informed him of his decision to settle on the Mathira MP as his running mate.
Kenya Kwanza had announced that they would unveil Ruto’s running mate on Saturday but a last-minute jostling between Gachagua and Kindiki, who were the two front runners for the position, allegedly further complicated the DP’s decision.
Talks to determine Ruto’s running mate would continue well into the night with the two front runners making their cases before the Kenya Kwanza boss. In a midnight statement, Kenya Kwanza later stated that it would make its decision known on Sunday.
Kindiki also claims to also have been aware that Gachagua’s unveiling announcement, would be made on Sunday after obligatory church services citing that he had confirmed attendance of the event with DP Ruto.
Kindiki says he only realised that Gachagua’s unveiling ceremony had begun after receiving phone calls from a number of Kenya Kwanza Allies, among them DP Ruto, who he says tried to reach out to him as well.
According to the legislator, since he was already aware that DP Ruto had already settled on Gachagua as his running mate he didn’t think that it was necessary to attend the event especially after already running late.