Former Trade Cabinet Secretary Moses Kuria has given a detailed account of why President William Ruto picked Rigathi Gachagua as his running mate during the 2022 elections.

In a candid interview on Thursday, March 19, 2026, Kuria revealed that he had strongly backed Martha Karua for the position and lobbied for her alongside Mwangi Kiunjuri and William Kabogo.

“I really tried to get Martha Karua to be the running mate for William Ruto,” Kuria said.

After Karua declined and joined the late Raila Odinga’s Azimio coalition, Kuria personally called Odinga to ensure she was protected, describing her as his “senior sister.”

Reasons behind Gachagua’s selection

Kuria highlighted three key factors that influenced Ruto’s decision to pick Gachagua over other contenders, including Kithure Kindiki. First, age optics: Ruto faced criticism for surrounding himself with younger politicians, choosing an older running mate helped counter the narrative that he was disconnected from the conservative Mount Kenya establishment.

“Ruto was facing criticism for surrounding himself with younger politicians, such as Kindiki, Ichung’wah, and others. At the time, the political dynamics in the Mount Kenya region were such that people did not fully trust him and felt he was relying too heavily on these young figures,” Kuria said.

Second, regional vote mathematics played a role. Gachagua hails from Nyeri in Mount Kenya West, a sub-region with substantial voter numbers.

“I believe he wanted someone from Mount Kenya West because of the significant voter numbers in that region,” he added.

Third was political risk management. Kuria suggested that Ruto avoided potential trouble by not picking candidates who could destabilize his campaign.

He described Kindiki as “decent” and unlikely to cause issues if overlooked, whereas Gachagua and similar figures are cantankerous if sidelined. Selecting Gachagua, therefore, was a pre-emptive move to manage internal political risks.

Aftermath and political rivalry

Less than two years into the term, Gachagua was impeached by the Senate on October 17, 2024, on multiple charges including alleged constitutional violations and economic crimes, with the first charge passing 54–13. Since then, he has positioned himself as a leading opposition voice. At a March 16, 2026 burial in Kiambu, he pledged to “make sure that William Ruto is not going to sleep for the next 15 months” until he is removed from office.

Gachagua has described his ouster positively, likening it to “throwing a fish back into water,” and says it has strengthened his connection with grassroots supporters under the campaign slogan “Skiza Wakenya.”