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Makueni Senator Dan Maanzo has weighed in on the speculated rift between President William Ruto and his deputy Rigathi Gachagua.

Speaking during an interview with a local TV station on Thursday, June 6, 2024, the senator stated that President Ruto is prepared to ditch his deputy for a woman running mate in the 2027 general election.

Maanzo specifically pointed out that Ruto had subtly issued his notice of the changes to Gachagua when he recently announced that he would agree with him (Gachagua) to preserve the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) presidential running mate post for the opposite gender.

The lawmaker additionally stated that Gachagua only has himself to blame after his sustained remarks on shareholders leading the country. He further jested that the president may pick Homa Bay Governor Gladys Wanga or her Kirinyaga counterpart Anne Waiguru as his running mate.

“The issue of Raila being perceived to have gone in government has annoyed Rigathi and some of his people. But Ruto has already given notice to Gachagua that in 2027, he is not his running mate, and that his running mate will be a woman. It could be Wanga or Waiguru, so he has already been given notice to quit, therefore he must rebuild his career,” he stated.

“DP Gachagua brought problems to himself when he made remarks about shareholders that referred to two major tribes in the Central and Rift Valley regions.”

The reported fallout between Gachagua and his boss has taken centre stage in the country’s politics, creating debate among analysts and members of the opposition.

Recently, Gachagua came out to downplay the reports stating that he was still on good terms with his boss.

“The President and I are doing a good job. We love each other. He has given me a lot of work, sometimes I am overwhelmed. He has enabled me to do my work. Our government is firm. President William Ruto is a trustworthy leader, a patriotic leader and a leader who unites the people. He is not tribal and he protects his people,” Gachagua said.

The speculations were rife after the DP maintained his push for “one man, one vote, one shilling” revenue-sharing formula, which Ruto has opposed in the past.

The DP defended his statement saying he was only bringing people from his community affiliated with other parties to UDA.

“I am not very clever but I am not stupid. I know a lot of issues that most people don’t know. I made a decision as the senior most leader in Mt Kenya to unite everyone irrespective of where they voted. I am here again proposing the one man one shilling one vote. Anybody who opposes it from our region is just a traitor. Even during the time when we were fighting colonisation, these traitors still existed,” Gachagua said.

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