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Deputy President William Ruto and Azimio-One Kenya leader Raila Odinga are bracing for a turbulent week with only seven days to the deadline for naming their running-mates.

This week will either make or break their presidential bids because the person they choose might bear good tidings or portend trouble for their State House ambitions.

After successfully negotiating for an extension with the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission, which gave them more time to name their running mates, the two front-runners now must appoint them by Monday.

Initially the electoral body had given April 28 as the final day for presidential hopefuls to submit their names alongside those of their running mates but after consultation with Raila and Ruto camps, the period was extended to May 16.

Both leaders have taken a cautionary approach towards arriving at their decision, even picking teams to help them identify suitable candidates that will give them a head start in terms of numbers and appeal. They are also interested in picking candidates based on compatibility while gender and the region they come from are also important considerations that make their choice even harder.

Raila, for instance, named a team of seven eminent individuals to help him wade through this period with minimal damage while Ruto picked an informal team for the same task. 

Those close to Ruto have said he has given full attention to this undertaking.

Political analyst Franklin Kaburu said the most important decision a presidential hopeful can make is choosing who to run with. How he or she achieves this is not as important.

“This is their decision to make. They can choose a panel like what has happened in Raila’s case although the final decision will be upon him,” said Kaburu, also the secretary general of the Party for Peace and Democracy.  Jostling for the position, which is a heartbeat away from the presidency has hit fever pitch as the clocks ticks towards deadline, with all sides struggling to identify the perfect match for their presidential candidates.

The biggest consideration is the number of votes a running mate brings to the table, as Kenya’s voting patterns are still region-based with influential leaders having a greater chance of swaying votes to their political sides.

 Gender has also emerged as a consideration due to constitutional imperatives. Only last week, IEBC said neither Azimio-One Kenya nor Kenya Kwanza had met the constitutional threshold for gender parity.

Influential leaders

The panel set up to help Raila make his decision without injuring his election prospects has until end of business tomorrow to conduct interviews and present its nominee – or shortlisted candidates to the coalition leaders Raila and President Uhuru Kenyatta, who is its chairman.

The seven-member team, led by former Minister Noah Wekesa received 20 applications but has narrowed down to 11 whose résumés will be interrogated before a shorter list is presented to the party bigwigs. Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka, counterparts Martha Karua (Narc Kenya), Charity Ngilu (Narc), Peter Munya (PNU), Gideon Moi (Kanu), Lee Kinyanjui (Ubuntu) Stephen Tarus (National Liberal Party) have been recommended by their outfits for the position. Jubilee and ODM have forwarded two senior party officials each; Murang’a Woman Rep Sabina Chege and former Gatanga MP Peter Kenneth are from the former while Governors Hassan Joho (Mombasa) and Wycliffe Oparanya (Kakamega) are from the latter.

Kalonzo has always been considered the most probable candidate and he has claimed before that there should never have been a contest on who should be Raila’s deputy since he considers himself the natural candidate.

However, this week he has protested over alleged mistreatment in the coalition after it was reported he was expected to face the panel for an interview. 

He demanded respect, claiming he was the most qualified person having deputised Raila in 2013 and 2017 polls.

Karua’s entry into the running mate equation has complicated the chances for Kalonzo. 

Those fronting Karua claim with the help of the President, she could break UDA’s hold on Mt Kenya and deliver the desired votes to the alliance although critics say she will have a difficult time achieving this feat considering the opposition she has had to face while campaigning in recent days.

Other potential candidates are Kenneth and Moi whose profiles have lately faded despite being seriously considered earlier in the race. 

The Azimio panel met on Saturday and established the criteria that will be followed to identify the most suitable candidate. They will present three names in order of priority to the two leaders, who will then pick one within the week.

The team has not revealed what they are looking for in the person they are after but Azimio spokesman, Prof Makau Mutua, said they were keen on a number issues he said were critical to the mission to ensure Raila became the country’s next Head of State.  The law don gave a sneak preview into some of the considerations for the post of running mate saying they will be seeking someone with integrity, experience, represents diversity “and brings votes to the ticket”.

Current situation

“The crucible on the running mate will be pegged on a moral, ethical, principled and experienced person who can help Raila to run the government,” he told People Daily.

“The candidate will have to be presidential, share the Azimio vision and enjoy a smooth working relationship to avoid a repeat of the current situation where the President and his deputy are in conflict.

According to him, the Azimio ticket will have to project the face of Kenya and accommodate other variables such as gender.

“But the most important is that the running mate must bring votes into Azimio so that the candidate can win with a good margin,” Makau said. 

Within Ruto’s camp, the disquiet over who to deputise him has not been as turbulent although hardline positions have already been established.

Mt Kenya leaders, led by Mathira MP Rigathi Gachagua have made it clear they will not take anything less than a running mate position.  

The lawmaker is one of those being considered for the post among a number of others, including Tharaka Nithi Senator Kithure Kindiki, Kirinyaga Governor Anne Waiguru and MPs Ndindi Nyoro (Kiharu) and Alice Wahome (Kandara). Outside the region, Amani National Congress leader Musalia Mudavadi has also been hinted as a possibility.

Leaders from Mt Kenya have, however, insisted that Ruto’s deputy must come from that region.

Speaking in Embu county at the weekend, the leaders said they did not have any preferred name from the region and pledged to support whoever is picked.

“Provided he picks from the mountain because we have had such an arrangement. We do not want people to divide the region into East and West. Whoever he decides we will help them one hundred percent,” he said.

He said there was no need for a committee like Azimio’s to assist them reach an agreement. “We do not  have to tell people to apply, he is our leader and we trust him,” he added. 

Runyenjes MP Cecily Mbarire said Mt Kenya region was rich with leaders capable of occupying the DP position.