Former Attorney General Justin Muturi has revealed new details about how William Ruto ultimately settled on Rigathi Gachagua as his running mate during the 2022 presidential election.
In a detailed account shared on social media, Muturi said the final decision was made after a late-night conversation between him and the president just hours before the running mate announcement.
According to Muturi, he was in Mombasa when Ruto called and asked him to travel to Nairobi for an urgent meeting at his Karen residence. The meeting took place on the eve of the announcement that would determine who would deputize Ruto in the presidential race.
During the meeting, Muturi said Ruto explained that leaders within the United Democratic Alliance had taken a firm position that the running mate had to come from both the UDA party and the Mt Kenya region.
Muturi said the president told him that although there had previously been discussions about him being considered for the role, the political realities had changed. Because Muturi belonged to another political party, the Democratic Party, he could not be chosen as the running mate.
The former Attorney General said he accepted the explanation and assured Ruto that he understood the political situation. He added that the president appeared relieved after the conversation.
However, Muturi also disclosed that the debate within the campaign team had not been fully settled at the time. Another contender for the position, Kithure Kindiki, had reportedly received strong backing within the team and had even won the majority vote in internal consultations.
Despite this, Muturi said Ruto expressed doubts about Kindiki’s political appeal in the vote-rich Mt Kenya region. The president reportedly believed that Kindiki lacked the grassroots political influence needed to mobilize voters effectively.
Muturi further said Ruto eventually concluded that choosing Kindiki could weaken the ticket politically and risk losing support in the region.
The president therefore decided to settle on Rigathi Gachagua, who he believed had the political network and regional influence necessary to secure the Mt Kenya vote.
Muturi said the decision was largely driven by electoral strategy rather than personal preference.
In the 2022 election, Ruto and Gachagua went on to win the presidency with slightly over 50 percent of the vote, defeating the Azimio coalition led by Raila Odinga.
Muturi’s revelations provide a rare glimpse into the behind-the-scenes political calculations that shaped the Kenya Kwanza ticket ahead of the tightly contested election.
The former Attorney General’s account also highlights the intense negotiations, regional considerations, and party dynamics that often influence major political decisions in Kenya.
