I was Uhuru’s preferred running mate – CS Wamalwa

Defence Cabinet Secretary Eugene Wamalwa now reveals that he was a front runner to become President Uhuru Kenyatta’s running mate in the 2013 presidential elections.

Speaking to Daily Nation, Wamalwa said that President Kenyatta came up with a plan that could see the then Jubilee coalition win a majority of votes in the country.

In the plan, according to Wamalwa, Uhuru chose him as his deputy and Deputy President William Ruto was to be Majority Leader in the National Assembly.

“When we were planning to form the government, the three of us – President Uhuru, Ruto and I – Uhuru had chosen me as his running mate and Ruto was to be Majority Leader, with Cherau Ali Mwakwere as his deputy.

It was agreed that later, upon constitutional amendments, Ruto would become prime minister, with Mwakwere as his deputy to take care of the Coast region,” Wamalwa said.

The former Devolution CS, however, said that his chances to become the country’s second-most powerful person under the Jubilee government was thwarted after he was short-changed by DP Ruto.

According to Wamalwa, Ruto later became the deputy president instead of him because it was perceived that Rift Valley (Ruto’s political stronghold) would fully back President Kenyatta’s political ambitions, unlike Wamalwa’s Western which is perceived as Raila Odinga’s stronghold.

He said that his claims can be confirmed by Nairobi Senator Johnson Sakaja and Cherangany MP Joshua Kutuny.

“I was short-changed and it is something that you should ask DP Ruto. I think I have heard Senator Sakaja say that ‘you know Eugene was to be the deputy president, but Ruto has Kalenjin votes, Luhya is divided.” he said

Adding: “I heard my friend, Cheragany MP Joshua Kutuny speak about it too one day. Ask DP Ruto and my friend Raphael Tuju to tell you who Uhuru’s preferred deputy was and what happened.”