Nairobi, September 7

The Amani National Congress (ANC) party leader, Musalia Mudavadi, has hinted on the possibility of picking a running mate from Central Kenya, in a move viewed as meant to consolidate support from the Mt Kenya region.

Mudavadi, who is also a member of the One Kenya Alliance (OKA), has insisted he will be on the presidential ballot when the country heads to the polls on August 9, 2022.

OKA co-principals including Mudavadi, Kalonzo Musyoka of Wiper Democratic Movement, Gideon Moi of independence party, KANU, and Moses Wetangula of Ford Kenya, have previously failed to agree on who will be the coalition’s flagbearer, with each insisting they will run for the country’s top seat.

However, only Mr Mudavadi and Mr Musyoka have officially declared their interests in the State House race.

Reports have also previously indicated the four have refused to back the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) leader, Raila Odinga’s presidential bid. President Uhuru Kenyatta is seen as pushing the four to back Mr Odinga.

In an interview on Inooro FM Tuesday, September 7, morning, Mudavadi Central Kenya’s political muscle in his hunt for a running mate.

“The people of Mt Kenya are very critical and powerful when it comes to determining the country’s political direction,” stated Mudavadi who was speaking in Swahili.

Mudavadi pointed out that the region, which has produced three Heads of State over time, is very instrumental in determining who becomes the country’s next leader.

Central Kenya produced the country’s founding father, Mzee Jomo Kenyatta, the third President Mwai Kibaki and the incumbent and fourth President Uhuru Kenyatta.

“We have had three Presidents from that region, a region known to produce people who are focused and very good in business. It is possible I will get my running mate from that region,” added Mudavadi.

He went ahead to state that the mountain region, as things are, may not and should not field a presidential candidate to allow other regions to lead the nation.

Should the former Vice President in the President Daniel Moi’s regime go all the way to the ballot, it will be his second stab at the presidency, having come third in the 2013 elections.

Mudavadi, Musyoka and Odinga will all be gunning to battle it out with Deputy President William Ruto, who has made it clear that he will seek Kenyans’ support in becoming the country’s fifth Commander-in-Chief.