The deputy president selection quagmire
By Andrew Mirara
On April 17, 2022, the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) issued a statement to the effect that all presidential candidates must declare their deputies by Thursday, April 28.
This has put in motion a flurry of activities in both of the leading political camps i.e. Azimio-One Kenya Coalition and Kenya Kwanza Coalition in trying to meet the deadline even as they argue that the deadline should be April 2. The argument is based on the fact that the deadline for political parties to forward the names of their Presidential candidates is April 2 so it would be illogical to forward the names of running mates before those of the Presidential candidates.
Besides meeting the requirements as outlined by the IEBC, for one to qualify as a Presidential Running mate, each coalition is facing quite a headache because of the large pool of potential candidates that they have.
In Azimio-One Kenya some of the names that have been fronted include Martha Karua, Kalonzo Musyoka, Peter Munya, Ali Hassan Joho and Peter Kenneth. In Kenya Kwanza, Musalia Mudavadi, Rigathi Gachagua, Ann Waiguru, Ndidi Nyoro, Alice Wahome and Kithure Kindiki are being touted as possible candidates.
While Azimio - One Kenya has resolved to constitute a panel which will recommend suitable candidates, Kenya Kwanza has left it to Deputy President to choose his preferred Running mate.
But what will be the major considerations to be looked at apart from the set guidelines by the IEBC? One obvious one will be what numerical weight in terms of votes one carries.
A running mate will have to have a perceived large backing of votes that one can transfer to the Presidential candidates. Another is regional balance where both the President and the Deputy don't come from the same region. There is also a great push for gender equality to choose a woman as a Running mate. There are other considerations that are not being put out in the open but will greatly influence the choice of a Running mate.
One of them is getting someone who is submissive. After the spectacles that we have witnessed after 2017 of Deputy President William Ruto who chose to disobey President Uhuru Kenyatta's directives to stop early campaigning, no Presidential candidate will want such a Deputy including Ruto himself. Each Presidential candidate will want a Yes Sir, No Sir person. One who does what he or she is told without questioning.
Another major attribute will be someone who is not ambitious in the short term. No one will want to appoint someone who is overly ambitious of becoming the next president in the near future i.e 2027. That seat of power is so sweet for one to just exit willingly after 5 years.
There has been talk about having a Mandela moment in Kenya. This is similar to how Nelson Mandela became the President of South Africa for five years and left to signify a political transition but the truth of the matter is in Africa and indeed the world, most people strive to serve full terms.
Those privy to the negotiations that were held during the formation of Azimio-One Kenya., there were deliberations of Raila Odinga serving one term. But how one acts after becoming President is a whole different matter. What if he renegates from that and decides to go for another and final term?
It has happened before, Mwai Kibaki was to serve one term as per the famous Memorandum of Understanding that he signed with Raila Odinga, Kijana Wamalwa and Charity Ngilu which also included the formation of an Executive Prime Minister post. We have seen signed agreements between parties trashed because its quite hard to legally bind political parties that keep evolving.
In Kenya Kwanza, William Ruto on the other hand also has to look for someone ready to support him for two terms and at least wait for them to win a second term to launch their campaign just like he did.
Just who gets to be chosen is making Raila and Ruto have sleepless nights. Between now and next week Thursday, we are bound to experience quite a lot of surprises regarding this. May the best Running mate be picked.
While Azimio - One Kenya has resolved to constitute a panel which will recommend suitable candidates, Kenya Kwanza has left it to Deputy President to choose his preferred Running mate.
But what will be the major considerations to be looked at apart from the set guidelines by the IEBC? One obvious one will be what numerical weight in terms of votes one carries.
A running mate will have to have a perceived large backing of votes that one can transfer to the Presidential candidates. Another is regional balance where both the President and the Deputy don't come from the same region. There is also a great push for gender equality to choose a woman as a Running mate. There are other considerations that are not being put out in the open but will greatly influence the choice of a Running mate.
One of them is getting someone who is submissive. After the spectacles that we have witnessed after 2017 of Deputy President William Ruto who chose to disobey President Uhuru Kenyatta's directives to stop early campaigning, no Presidential candidate will want such a Deputy including Ruto himself. Each Presidential candidate will want a Yes Sir, No Sir person. One who does what he or she is told without questioning.
Another major attribute will be someone who is not ambitious in the short term. No one will want to appoint someone who is overly ambitious of becoming the next president in the near future i.e 2027. That seat of power is so sweet for one to just exit willingly after 5 years.
There has been talk about having a Mandela moment in Kenya. This is similar to how Nelson Mandela became the President of South Africa for five years and left to signify a political transition but the truth of the matter is in Africa and indeed the world, most people strive to serve full terms.
Those privy to the negotiations that were held during the formation of Azimio-One Kenya., there were deliberations of Raila Odinga serving one term. But how one acts after becoming President is a whole different matter. What if he renegates from that and decides to go for another and final term?
It has happened before, Mwai Kibaki was to serve one term as per the famous Memorandum of Understanding that he signed with Raila Odinga, Kijana Wamalwa and Charity Ngilu which also included the formation of an Executive Prime Minister post. We have seen signed agreements between parties trashed because its quite hard to legally bind political parties that keep evolving.
In Kenya Kwanza, William Ruto on the other hand also has to look for someone ready to support him for two terms and at least wait for them to win a second term to launch their campaign just like he did.
Just who gets to be chosen is making Raila and Ruto have sleepless nights. Between now and next week Thursday, we are bound to experience quite a lot of surprises regarding this. May the best Running mate be picked. What's Your Reaction?
