Mount Kenya Amani Nation Alliance (ANC) party members are advocating for Musalia Mudavadi to be appointed Deputy President William Ruto’s running mate ahead of the August 9 polls.

Addressing the press at a Kerugoya hotel in Kirinyaga County, the leaders said that it does not matter if a leader from Mount Kenya is endorsed for the number two position if Kenyans elect Ruto in August.

Led by Kirinyaga county gubernatorial hopeful on an ANC ticket Peter Ireri, the leaders said what matters to the region is development projects which will be initiated under Deputy President William Ruto’s leadership after August.

“What matters is whether the coffee and tea industry will be revived. Our men are drowning in alcoholism and we want them to be saved from the vice,” Ireri noted.

He added that the region is only interested in development projects compared to government positions.

“We have had the privilege of producing three presidents and three presidents since independence. The incumbent, Uhuru Kenyatta, comes from our region and despite all these, our people have been facing numerous challenges,” Ireri said.

Mudasalia agreed to support Ruto

The leaders said that Mudavadi agreed to shelf his presidential ambition in order to support Ruto’s bid and, therefore, he should be considered for the position.

“UDA has fronted a presidential candidate and should not be shellfish and take the running mate position since we are all in a coalition,” Philip Githua, Chairman ANC party Nyeri county branch, said.

They insist that the ANC party leader is a man of high integrity.

“He proved to be a leader of integrity while serving in various positions in the past regimes,” Githua said.

According to the leaders, the Deputy President has been able to cement his support across Mount Kenya.

“The support of the Deputy President is still intact because the Support of DP comes directly from the people not the leaders from this region. So they should not hold him hostage. The position should be given to Musalia,” he said.