Mathira MP Rigathi Gachagua has given up on his chances of deputizing United Democratic Alliance (UDA) presidential candidate William Ruto in the August 9 polls.

Gachagua who has been touted as a possible running mate of DP Ruto has instead announced his intentions to retain his Mathira constituency’s parliamentary seat on the UDA party ticket.

The lawmaker revealed his intentions moments after he officially quit the Jubilee Party.

He upheld that he will be seeking to defend his MP seat and urged his challengers to brave for a serious face-off.

“I have officially left my former party Jubilee and joined the Party of the future UDA. I have paid the official fee to defend the Mathira Parliamentary seat on a UDA ticket,” he said.

“I invite all those who wish to unseat me to join UDA before tomorrow’s deadline and face me in the party nominations as they have no chance of beating me in the elections then they are using any party associated with Azimio,” he added.

Gachagua’s decision to step down from the national politics comes days after he faced sharp criticism from affiliate members of the Kenya Kwanza Alliance after he claimed that DP Ruto’s running mate in the August elections will come from Mt Kenya region.