Kitui governor Charity Ngilu is the latest contender in the race where Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) leader Raila Odinga, with the help of a panel, selects the most suitable running mate. If she takes the slot and wins, she will be Kenya’s first woman Deputy President.
The Kitui governor’s name was submitted on Monday, May 2, to the panel alongside other candidates. Also, scientific simulations will be used to choose the best candidate for the slot.
Some of the leaders expected to appear before Azimio’s panel are Peter Kenneth, Martha Karua, Mombasa Governor Hassan Joho, Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Peter Munya, and now Kitui governor Charity Ngilu. However, it is still not clear whether Wiper Boss Kalonzo Musyoka has submitted his name to the panel or not. Especially after he disputed being asked to appear before that panel for vetting.
The number-two seat is not only coveted by Azimio la Umoja One Kenya Alliance members but also among Deputy President William Ruto’s Kenya Kwanza Alliance. The leaders from the Mount Kenya Region are angling for the running mate position include; Tharaka Nithi Senator Kithure Kindiki, National Assembly Speaker Justin Muturi, Kirinyaga Governor Anne Waiguru, and Mathira MP Rigathi Gachagua. Moreover, there are 5.8 million votes from the eight counties in the region being dangled in the negotiations.
National Assembly Speaker Justin Muturi, Prof Kithure Kindiki, an accomplished law scholar, former majority leader, and Deputy Speaker, are from Mt Kenya East. This region has never produced a top leader. Rigathi Gachagua, a close ally of Rutoo, comes from Nyeri, whereas Ann Waiguru hails from Kirinyaga. Waiguru is pushing the gender card in the debate.
The power brokers rooting for Governor Ngilu argue that being an old hand, she will be instrumental in wooing female votes, of course, not to mention her solid credentials.
Earlier on were questions about whether she’s defending the Kitui governors’ seat or not come August 9, following the stiff competition for that post. Nonetheless, on gender consideration, Charity Ngilu will have to battle with Narc-Kenya’s Martha Karua, a leading contender in the race. The Narc Kenya leader accompanied Raila to the US, which raised assumptions that she was angled to be the running mate.
Governor Ngilu said it would be a dream come true if she is picked as the running mate and Azimio wins the presidency. Ngilu had stated that she expected former President Mwai Kibaki to name her Vice-President in 2003 after the demise of Kijana Wamalwa. She added that she and the two dignitaries were the founder members of the National Rainbow Alliance of Kenya before Raila’s LDP joined in to form the National Rainbow Coalition (Narc).
Due to her cunning ways in political mediation and campaigns, governor Ngilu became the patron of Jeshi La Baba, a national group of women leaders supporting Mr. Odinga’s State House bid.
At the same time, Governor Ngilu is perceived as a budding replacement for Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka, who also wants the running mate position and claims that, should Raila ignore him, the Azimio ticket will lose the presidential vote to Ruto. Ngilu said she would be killing two birds with one stone by gaining more women votes and keeping the Kamba nation in Azimio. Leaders from Ukambani backing up Kalonzo warned that they could storm out of the coalition and back DP Ruto in protest.
“In the current arrangement, that’s just a Cabinet Secretary position by another name. No Kalonzo as DP, No Raila. You can’t create such a position unless you amend the Constitution,” Makueni MP Daniel Maanzo said while reacting to Azimio’s proposal to create a new post for Mr. Musyoka when they win, to allow Raila to appoint a different running mate.
Charity Ngilu is among the leaders who fought to restore multiparty politics and, in 1997, ran against President Daniel Moi under the “Masaa ni ya Ngilu” clarion call. In the 2013 and 2017 polls, Ngilu again cast her lot with President Kenyatta.
Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) Chair Wafula Chebukati last week urged political parties and alliances to meet the two-third gender rule while submitting the names of candidates to the commission.
“You’re hereby reminded that all political parties participating in the upcoming General Election must comply with the existing statutory obligations and ensure all lists of the nominated candidates must comply with the two-third gender rule,” Mr. Chebukati said.
A sure path of having a female second-in-command will be opened even for the future should Raila Odinga and the DP William Ruto pick female aspirants as their running mates. The contest to succeed President Kenyatta has turned out to be a two-horse race.
