Manyora: It’s difficult for Ruto to drop Kindiki as DP
By Mabonga Makhanu, July 20, 2026Professor Herman Manyora has opined that it will be difficult for President William Ruto to drop Deputy President Kithure Kindiki as his running mate in the 2027 General Election.
Speaking during an interview on a local radio station on Monday, July 20, 2026, Manyora argued that President Ruto is facing a political dilemma over who should deputise him in the next election.
According to the political analyst, replacing Kindiki with a candidate from the Luo Nyanza region could alienate voters in the Mt Kenya region, who have traditionally been a key support base for the president.
On the other hand, he said failing to reward Luo Nyanza with the deputy presidential slot could disappoint supporters from the region, as well as those in the Coast and Western Kenya, who are also seeking greater political representation.
“It will be difficult for President William Ruto to drop Kithure Kindiki as his running mate in 2027. Ruto is now in a dilemma because he does not know who to give the running mate slot. If he removes Kindiki and gives it to Luo Nyanza, Mt. Kenya will move away from him,” he said.
“On the other hand, if he denies Luo Nyanza the position, he risks losing support from the region as well as the Coast and Western Kenya. That is why I think he will eventually settle on retaining Kindiki as his running mate going forward.”
Manyora maintained that balancing these competing regional interests would be a difficult task for the president, adding that the political realities could ultimately compel Ruto to retain Kindiki as his running mate ahead of the 2027 General Election.
Infrotrak surveys
This comes at a time when Deputy President Kithure Kindiki is facing a fresh political numbers test.
This is after a new Infotrak survey showed that Hassan Joho, Gladys Wanga, and Musalia Mudavadi are the leading regional choices for a running mate for William Ruto.
The poll released on Monday, July 13, 2026, shows Kindiki commanding Mt Kenya but struggling to match the influence of other government and political figures outside his home region.
Kindiki leads
According to Infotrak, Kindiki leads the Mt Kenya running mate preference at 41 per cent.
However, 33 per cent of respondents in the region remain undecided, while Kirinyaga Governor Anne Waiguru emerged as another notable named option.