Former Trade Cabinet Secretary Moses Kuria said President William Ruto should be given complete freedom to choose his running mate for the 2027 General Election, dismissing speculation over Deputy President Kithure Kindiki’s political future.
Speaking during a TV interview on Sunday, Kuria said the decision on who will deputise Ruto in the 2027 polls rests solely with the President and should not be influenced by political pressure or public speculation.
He affirmed that political actors had no authority to impose a running mate on the President, adding that he would support whoever Ruto ultimately chooses.
The former CS maintained that Ruto should be allowed to exercise his discretion without interference, arguing that the decision on his running mate is the President’s prerogative.
He pointed out that Ruto personally selected his previous and current running mates, arguing that the same principle would apply when the President makes his decision for the next election.
“Who appointed the former deputy president as a running mate? Who was the president? But the first pick was Rigathi. So who picked him? The president. And who picked Kindiki? The president. And who will pick the next one? The president,” Kuria said.
He maintained that political actors should not attempt to determine a decision that constitutionally belongs to the President.
Kuria’s comments come amid growing speculation over President William Ruto’s choice of running mate for the 2027 General Election.
Deputy President Kithure Kindiki remains at the centre of the debate, with questions over whether Ruto will retain him or turn to a figure from ODM under the broad-based government arrangement.
Names such as ODM chairperson and Homa Bay Governor Gladys Wanga and Mining Cabinet Secretary Hassan Joho have featured in political discussions around the 2027 succession battle.
However, Kindiki remains the leading choice among Ruto supporters, according to a May TIFA survey, which put his support at 59 percent, compared with 12 percent for Wanga and three percent each for Joho and Oburu Odinga.
The speculation comes as political parties position themselves ahead of the 2027 polls, with Kuria insisting that the final decision rests with Ruto.
The former CS maintained that speculation about whether Kindiki would remain in the position was therefore unnecessary, insisting that Ruto should be allowed to make the choice without interference.
“It is complete waste of time to throw into conjecture things that are going to be decided by one person who is the president. You cannot force a running mate on the president,” he said.
Kuria further stressed that he would work with whoever the President chooses, while acknowledging that he already had experience working with Kindiki in Parliament, the political campaigns and Cabinet.
“Personally, I'll work with anyone. If I'm working with the president, the president should be given absolute freedom to choose whoever. If he picks Kindiki, I'll work with Kindiki,” he said.
Kuria added that his support would not be conditional on a particular individual being selected.
“If he chooses Gladys Wanga, I'll work with Gladys Wanga. If he chooses Oburu Oginga, I'll work with Oburu Oginga,” he said.
He explained that his position was based on his commitment to working with Ruto rather than having a personal preference over who should deputise the President.
“I will support anyone, for avoidance of doubt, whom the president picks.”
He further argued that voters and political groups in different regions should not be asked to take positions on the running mate question because they have no constitutional authority over the decision.
Kuria noted that the matter would only become a question for voters if the person concerned appeared on the ballot in a position they could directly vote for.
“On matters of running mate, I have no vote. I have absolutely no vote. It is a prerogative.”
Kuria's position leaves the question of whether Kindiki will remain Ruto's running mate firmly in the President's hands, while rejecting efforts to draw regional or political groups into deciding the matter.