Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has made clarifications following the remarks made by President William Ruto that they had come to an agreement that their United Democratic Alliance (UDA) Party would accommodate a female presidential candidate or running mate.
The DP was speaking during the International Women’s Day event on March 8, 2024, held at the Moi Stadium in Embu County.
Gachagua had joined the Head of State and other leaders including women governors to commemorate women in the country.
Rigathi refuted reports that Ruto would drop him in the upcoming 2027 general elections in favor of a woman candidate, noting that the President may have been misquoted.
“Just what the President said yesterday that we had come into an agreement is true and we shall continue talking.
“However, some people did not understand that the President said he shall talk to me so that we can make it happen when we are done with our work,” he said.
While hitting back to critics who made assumptions that Ruto would drop him, Gachagua asked them to wait, adding that the President will make a decision once he is done with his terms.
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Gachagua on being dropped
“You must first wait for me to help the President. When his tenure is over, the President himself will guide us and show us the way,” he added.
At the same time, Gachagua lauded women noting that they have been at the forefront of development in the country within various sectors such as education through the high levels of integrity they have been displaying.
On the other hand, he appreciated female leaders for their resilience and for standing besides President Ruto and him through their difficult political times.
“Even in your campaigns those who stood with you Mr President, those who prayed for you when you were faced with challenges were the women of Kenya,” he said.
President Ruto had on March 7, 2024, hinted on his party fielding a female running mate during the launch of Women Governors Caucus G7 Strategy.
The head of state explained that the party will only allow for a female deputy presidential candidate in case a man vies but however did not indicate when the law would be implemented.
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“We must be intentional and deliberate about the place of women in leadership. We have agreed with Deputy President that moving forward when we are done, in the party, if a presidential candidate is male, then a woman must be the deputy or vice versa. The same will apply to counties,” he said.
Ruto also said that his administration will make sure women in leadership positions succeed adding that the two-thirds gender rule will be attained.
In Ruto’s speech, he did not clarify if the gender policy would affect his choice of a running mate in 2027.
