The Amani National Congress (ANC) party on Monday, February 28, told off Mathira MP Rigathi Gachagua over his remarks that Deputy President William Ruto was Kenya Kwanza’s flagbearer and that he was not in any way planning to settle on Musalia Mudavadi as his preferred running mate.

In a statement released on Monday afternoon, ANC Secretary-General Simon Gikuru said that Gachagua who is DP Ruto’s right-hand man in United Democratic Alliance (UDA) did not have any authority whatsoever to speak on behalf of the coalition whose principals are; Ruto, Mudavadi and Ford Kenya leader Moses Wetangula.

“Kenya Kwanza has not decided on its presidential, running mate candidates. This will happen and be unveiled at an appropriate time by our principals Musalia Mudavadi, Dr. William Ruto and Moses Wetangula,” the statement read in part.

“In this regard, Hon. Rigathi Gachagua has no authority to speak for Kenya Kwanza coalition on the matter hence his sentiments are premature, untimely and unwarranted,” it added.

Gikuru further made it clear that the coalition had not settled on who would be either his presidential or Deputy in the next general election scheduled for August 9, 2022.

According to him, the main reason the three parties agreed to work together was to unite the country and deal with ethnicity issues.

“Our primary objective as Kenya Kwanza Coalition bringing together UDA, ANC and Ford Kenya- is to put our country together and erase ethnic animosity through mature politics devoid of toxic divisive narratives,” Gikuru said.

He maintained that the coalition was rooted in the strength of shared ideologies that are pegged on a number of issues which include; reviving the economy, entrenched nationalism, political tranquillity and social justice.

The Secretary-General called upon the lawmaker to shun his kind of politics which he described as a ‘regional UDA mindset’ and look at the bigger picture of the coalition.

While appearing on a local television on Monday morning, Gachagua made it clear that DP Ruto was not in any way going to pick Mudavadi as his running mate.

Currently, both DP Ruto and Mudavadi are on a 10-day tour in the USA and UK where they are scheduled to meet a number of politicians, scholars and Kenyans residing in both countries.

It is worth noting that Gachagua is among leaders from the vast Mount Kenya region who are being fronted to deputise Ruto in the August polls.

Others are Kirinyaga Governor Ann Waiguru and Kikuyu MP Kimani Ichungwa.