Former Kiambu Governor Ferdinand Waititu now says he was among influential politicians from the vote-rich Mount Kenya region who were considered for the deputy president position ahead of the 2022 General Election.

Speaking during an interview on Kameme TV on Monday night, Waititu also revealed that former Meru Governor Kiraitu Murungi and his Nyandarua counterpart Francis Kimemia were among three politicians from the region, who were promised the plum position by United Democratic Alliance (UDA) party candidate William Ruto.

The former county boss, however, expressed his dismay that none of the three leaders made it to the final list of the persons who were considered as Ruto’s running mate in the August 9, 2022 poll.

He suggested that the leaders could have been left out for being ‘hard-headed’.

According to him, Ruto, who went on to emerge victorious in the presidential race, was keen on working with political newbies.

“Ruto’s strategy is to kick out politicians of the older generation. He just wants newbies. While Ruto was Deputy President, he called me, alongside Kiraitu Murungi and Francis Kimemia and promised us that one of us would be his running mate. I think he did not pick any of us since we are all hard-headed,” Waititu, who lost his seat through an impeachment in 2020, said.

At the same time, the former county chief faulted Ruto over unfulfilled campaign pledges, claiming the Head of State had deceived the nation.

“I had so much faith in Ruto’s campaign pledges but we were all deceived,” he added.

Waititu distanced himself from the Kenya Kwanza government, saying he no longer considers himself a member of the ruling party.

Ruto picks running mate

Ruto named former Mathira MP Rigathi Gachagua as his running mate on March 15, 2022, bringing to an end months of heightened anxiety and speculation over his deputy choice.

Ruto settled on Gachagua even after the Kenya Kwanza selection panel overwhelmingly voted for then-Tharaka Nithi Senator Kithure Kindiki after a 17-hour standoff.

The running mate selection process reportedly created a rift in the Kenya Kwanza Alliance as leaders allied to Kindiki felt cheated following Gachagua’s nomination as Ruto’s running mate.