Section of Kirinyaga residents want Waiguru named Ruto's running mate

Speaking in Kutus on Tuesday, the group, led by Caroline Njoki, said Waiguru is the key woman in DP Ruto's camp and fits the deputy president role.

“Yeye ni mama ambaye hauziwi woga, vile mnamtusi ndivyo anaendelea kujenga hospitali,” said Njoki, adding that Waiguru has transformed the county and would be a force for national development.

“Even though the Governor has announced her intention of defending her seat, we are putting pressure on her to go for the Deputy president's seat,” one Wanjugu Mwajuma said.

Resolving the running mate puzzle is proving a delicate balancing act for leading presidential contenders, amid fears of fallout should those eyeing the second in command slot fail to make it to the ballot.

For deputy President William Ruto who is the defacto Kenya Kwanza presidential flagbearer, names of national assembly speaker Justin Muturi, Tharaka Nithi Senator Prof. Kithure Kindiki, Mathira lawmaker Rigathi Gachagua and Kirinyaga Governor Ann Waiguru have continuously featured in the list of likely running mates.

On Tuesday, the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) bowed to pressure from political parties and vacated the initial deadline for presidential aspirants to name their running mates.

Presidential hopefuls now have up to May 16th to identify and make public their partners in the State House race. The new timeline also gives gubernatorial aspirants some more time to name running mates, and was arrived after a 3-hour meeting at the commission’s headquarters.