Muturi: Ruto promised me running mate position in 2022
By Ndiritu Wanjiru, April 13, 2026Former Cabinet Secretary and Attorney General Justin Muturi has disclosed his political discussions with President Ruto regarding the 2022 General Election.
He has revealed the clandestine agreements within the Kenya Kwanza alliance, where Ruto had assured him of the running mate position in the presidential race.
Speaking in an exclusive interview with Kameme TV on Monday, April 13, 2026, Muturi said that President William Ruto had earlier guaranteed him a major position as a prospective running mate in the 2022 election campaign.
But he says that the suggestion was met with opposition in the United Democratic Alliance (UDA), with some members demanding that the deputy presidential nomination be filled only by someone who is a party member.
“Before I joined Ruto in 2022, he had promised me the running mate position,” Muturi said.
UDA objected to Muturi’s appointment
Muturi, party leader for the Democratic Party of Kenya, said that he heard of the internal objections, but he was not pursuing the post of Speaker, which was being discussed at that time. Rather, he pointed out that he had a strong interest in an executive position in government.
“There were also instances when I overheard people in UDA speaking, and they even informed me that the running mate position was to be filled by a UDA candidate since I was a DP candidate,” Muturi added.
Irrespective of the political backlash, Muturi said that he had a friendly talk with Ruto. He said that he had made it obvious that he did not want to be involved in parliamentary leadership positions, but he wanted to be involved in the executive arm of government.
“I informed him I had nothing against that, but I was not seeking the Speaker’s office. I was seeking the executive,” Muturi added.
Muturi also added that Ruto seemed to be delighted by his openness in their talks, though the internal politics of the coalition ended up determining the ultimate political choices to make before the election.
The comments illuminate the fragile dealings and conflicting goals that usually characterise coalition-building within Kenyan politics, especially during the build-up to significant national polls.