November 17, 2024

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Why Uhuru will lose Mt Kenya grip if region forfeits running mate post 

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Mt Kenya’s ten counties control nearly a third of the country’s total votes with Meru having 780,858 voters, Tharaka-Nithi (234,618), Embu (337,627), Nyeri (492,046) and Kirinyaga (378,580).

As the August elections approaches, campaigns have heated up with the presidential race being termed as a two-horse contest between Deputy President William Ruto and the President Uhuru Kenyatta-Raila Odinga handshake candidate.

The choice of a running mate will determine whether the presidential ticket succeeds or fails.

It is, however, speculated that Mt Kenya may not have a strong candidate. Whoever they massively support would win the seat, if they picked a running mate from the mountain, it is considered a game-changer in this sense.

There is a view that a running mate for the Deputy President (DP) will help him garner more regional votes.

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The announcement by Jubilee Party Vice-Chairman David Murathe that the position of Odinga’s running partner is not reserved for Mt Kenya has thrown a kink in the works.

Murathe mentioned the inclusion of Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka into the Azimio la Umoja alliance, as well as his subsequent backing of Odinga’s presidential run for the third time, as examples of changes that could change the long-held perspective.

During an interview with a local TV station, Murathe said that whatever votes Odinga gets from Mt. Kenya would be just an addition to his win.

“These people (Kenya Kwanza Alliance team) have hypothecated their whole game on Mt. Kenya votes but even without Mt. Kenya votes, Raila will still be the President,” said Murathe.

The justification is that should Odinga choose a running mate outside Mt Kenya, his main opponent, Ruto might overrun him in the region.

Kenyan Supreme Court Upholds October Election Results

The Independent, Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) data reveal that Mt Kenya currently has 5.9 million voters, having recorded 224,499 new voters in the recently concluded voter listing.

Mt Kenya’s ten counties control nearly a third of the country’s total votes with Meru having 780,858 voters, Tharaka-Nithi (234,618), Embu (337,627), Nyeri (492,046) and Kirinyaga (378,580).

Others are Murang’a (628,416), Kiambu (1,293,309), Laikipia (265,842), Nyandarua (362,357) and Nakuru (1,050,367), totaling to 5,824,020 votes.