A struggle for the endorsement of a running mate position for Azimio One Kenya Coalition within one of its constituent parties, KANU, seems to be brewing with top leadership within the party expressing different views on who should be backed as the rightful deputy for coalition leader Raila Odinga.

KANU in the early hours of Thursday, May 5 led by chairman Gideon Moi had endorsed Kalonzo Musyoka as the rightful candidate and forwarded his name to the Azimio One Kenya advisory panel as a contender.

“It is our sincere hope that this panel will consider and find him appropriate for the position of Deputy President and consequently recommend his selection as such,” Moi had said in his letter to the panel.

A few hours later, the party seemed to double-back on its endorsement of the Wiper Party leader and instead fronted its party chairman, Gideon Moi as their most preferred running mate and forwarded his name to the Azimio party's advisory panel for consideration led by Kanu Secretary-General Nick Salat.

Salat in his statement recommended Moi for his impeccable academic record and a record in public service, pointing out his two five-year terms as MP for Baringo Central and two five-year terms as Senator for Baringo County.

“A holder of bachelor's and master's degree qualifications from the University of Salford, Strathmore University, and St Paul's University, Gideon Moi is also an astute businessman with extensive local and international networks that will be employed and deployed by the Azimio government to attract the much-needed investment in Kenya in order to grow the economy,” Salat stated in his letter to the selection panel.

However, it seems as if Salat may have been moving alone in his letter to the panel as other leaders within the party have denied going back on their endorsement of Musyoka, as they unanimously agreed that he was the best fit for the job.

"The KANU Party National Chairperson Moi Gideon who by the provisions of Article 7 of the party constitution is the head of the Party and in that capacity oversees the overall management and running of the party and exercises all powers and perform all duties conferred upon him by the party has today endorsed Kalonzo Musyoka as the suitable and capable running mate to Rt. Hon. Raila Amolo Odinga under  Azimio One Kenya. Any other contrary communication from the party to that is not only null but void," Kanu Secretary Political Affairs Fred Okango revealed to a local media publication.

Musyoka on his part believes that he should not be subject to any kind of vetting for the role, as he has been by Odinga's side the longest, deputizing him in two previous elections