Kenya Kwanza alliance flag-bearer William Ruto on Sunday, May 14, announced his first task for MP Rigathi Gachagua after naming him as his running mate in the August 9 presidential elections.
The Deputy President while speaking during the running mate unveiling event at his Karen residence on Sunday stated that Gachagua’s role will now be to lead the economic team of the Kenya Kwanza alliance campaign machine towards their bottom-up economic agenda.
“Your first assignment that we have agreed with the leaders here is that you and my good friend Moses Kuria, who is an economist par excellence, will now offer the political leadership to our economic team to deliver on the robust agenda that we have assigned to them,” said Ruto.
Together with Moses Kuria, Mr. Gachagua is expected to lead the team in tabling all the counties’ economic charters in readiness for the presidency come August 9.
“We expect you and the economic team to give us context of how in 45 days we will have the economic charters of all the counties,” “The team here expects you to hit the ground running so that Kenya Kwanza can be ready to govern from Day 1.” Ruto said.
Moreover, during his thanksgiving speech, the Mathira MP dubbed Sunday one of the greatest days of his life, after his selection out of the pool of over five candidates. In that same spirit, he hailed the Deputy President as an inspiring figure in politics, whom he vowed to work with in transforming the country.
“It is a responsibility I take pride in and one that humbles me that you trusted me, together with our colleagues, to deliver Kenyans from economic oppression,” stated Gachagua.
Other contenders for the running mate position were: MPs Ndindi Nyoro (Kiharu), Alice Wahome (Kandara), National Assembly Speaker Justin Muturi, Kirinyaga Governor Anne Waiguru, and Tharaka Nithi Senator Kithure Kindiki.
Meanwhile, William Ruto promised to solve the gender imbalance in the nation’s leadership by ensuring 10 of the cabinet ministers in the government are women within a year of his administration with his deputy Rigathi Gachagua.