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Kenya: No One Has Approached Me for Deputy President’s Post – Karua

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4 years ago

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Nairobi — NARC Kenya Party Leader Martha Karua says she is honoured that presidential hopefuls and some leaders are considering her as a best fit for a running mate in the 2022 General Election.

Karua however, says she is yet to be approached by any of the presidential contenders.

“I want to appreciate all those who have confidence in me and to also remind us all that the seat of Deputy President is not the one that you can declare your candidature, it depends on the candidate and it is a last card played very close to the election,” she said during an exclusive interview with Capital FM News.

Karua’s name has dominated headlines in recent weeks as a possible Deputy to Amani National Congress (ANC) party leader Musalia Mudavadi or former Prime Minister Raila Odinga who will be vying under his Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) party.

Others keen on the presidency are Deputy President William Ruto, KANU Party Leader Gideon Moi, businessman Jimi Wanjigi, National Assembly Speaker Justin Muturi, former Secretary General of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) Mukhisa Kituyi and Makueni Governor Kivutha Kibwana.

Karua is emerging as one of the most formidable factors in shaping the Mt. Kenya unity bid ahead of the 2022 elections and she has been holding meetings with key factions leading or seeking unity in the vote-rich region that is building consensus on a pre-election arrangement with leading presidential candidates.

She was recently named Spokesperson of the Mt Kenya Unity group that brings together Gatundu South MP Moses Kuria, former Cabinet Secretary Mwangi Kiunjuri and other like-minded politicians in the region.

MP Kuria has since endorsed Karua as Kenya’s best bet for the Deputy President’s seat.

A section of the contenders including Odinga, Mudavadi, Muturi and Kibwana are rumoured to be courting Karua as their preferred running mate but the former Justice Minister has stated it is mere speculations.

“Nobody has courted me; those are rumours and I can only answer that when a specific proposal is put to me. I do not want to answer to speculations,” she said.

Karua stated that she is focussed on being the incoming Kirinyaga Governor even though she did not directly rule out the chances of her changing her mind in the last minute if approached to be someone’s running mate.

“I refuse to be drawn into the debate of the Deputy President because there is no proposal on the table, that is pure speculation. And saying that Mt. Kenya will not have a candidate is too early, there can be a surprise candidate not just in Mt. Kenya but anywhere in Kenya. So, we can say for now we are seeing several candidates for the presidency but that does not mean that the race is closed,” she said.