Kericho Senator Aaron Cheruiyot has revealed that National Assembly Majority Leader Kimani Ichung’wah opposed President William Ruto’s choice of Rigathi Gachagua as his running mate in the 2022 elections.

Speaking during the burial of Ichung’wah’s father on Monday, September 15, 2025, Cheruiyot said Ichung’wah was among the leaders who openly resisted the decision. He explained that the Kikuyu lawmaker did not even attend the unveiling ceremony at Ruto’s Karen residence.

“In the case of Kimani Ichung’wah, black is black and white is white. There are no grey areas for him. And by the way, many times that gets him into a lot of trouble,” Cheruiyot said.

Watch: Cheruiyot recalls how Ichung’wah stood his ground against Gachagua’s pick in 2022.

“I will also leave to recall when I was reflecting here that a few months to the election, when a certain decision was made, which, whether it was right or wrong, time has lived to prove who was right. Between those who say we take a particular position, I’m avoiding to say you, Your Excellency, but you know that.”

He added that Ichung’wah stood firm at the time, despite pressure from within the Kenya Kwanza camp.

“On the day that the unveiling was being done, Kimani never showed up to that meeting. And when I called him, he told me, ‘Aaron, you know me very well. For me, black is black and white is white. That is a wrong decision,’” Cheruiyot told mourners.

“And those like Kimani who put their foot down and say that this is a wrong decision. In fact, on the day that the unveiling was being done, Kimani never showed up to that meeting.”

“And when I called him to say, please, you are a team member. Once a decision has been made, you have to live by it. He told me, Aaron, you know me very well. For me, black is black and white is white. That is a wrong decision. I thought he was wrong, but over time, the country has come to realise Kimani was right indeed. That was absolutely wrong.”

It is worth noting that in 2024, while Gachagua was still the Deputy President, Kimani Ichung’wah threw shade at him, terming him selfish.

Kindiki’s lost chance revisited

The remarks revive memories of the tense negotiations that preceded the announcement of Ruto’s running mate. Reports from May 2022 revealed that most Mt Kenya leaders preferred the then Tharaka Nithi Senator Kithure Kindiki. Internal opinion polls and a vote by Central Kenya UDA MPs showed Kindiki had overwhelming support.

Despite this, Ruto is said to have already settled on Gachagua, describing him as a strong mobiliser and campaigner. On the day of the unveiling, Kindiki, feeling betrayed, also skipped the event.

More than two years later, Kindiki would eventually take up the position. In October 2024, President Ruto nominated him as Deputy President after Parliament impeached Gachagua. Both houses approved Kindiki’s nomination, though the High Court briefly suspended his swearing-in to review the impeachment process.