Ruto Now Wants Kalonzo to be Exempted from Azimio Running Mate Interviews.
Deputy President William Ruto has weighed in on the public debate over the Azimio la Umoja One Kenya coalition's advisory panel's plans to interview Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka for the position of running mate.
Anthony Mutisya 
In a statement issued on Wednesday, May 4, the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) party leader stated that subjecting an ex-Vice President to panel interviews was humiliating for former Prime Minister Raila Odinga.
He claimed that the coalition led by Raila and President Uhuru Kenyatta was attempting to shortchange the Wiper party boss.
"Though we are competitors, to subject HE Kalonzo to some humiliating 'interview' is impunity. We must unite to eliminate the culture of political deceit, the hallmark of some politicians.”
"Whatever the circumstances every leader deserves some dignity and respect. Heshima si utumwa," DP Ruto stated.
The DP's statement comes after Kalonzo expressed reservations about attending the panel interviews scheduled from May 4 to May 10 in an interview with the standard.
Though we are competitors,to subject HE Kalonzo to some humiliating 'interview' is impunity. We must unite to eliminate the culture of political deceit,the hallmark of some politicians. Whatever the circumstances every leader deserves some dignity and respect. Heshima si utumwa. pic.twitter.com/oJ3q4UJhks
— William Samoei Ruto, PhD (@WilliamsRuto) May 4, 2022
“I want to tell all Kenyans that I will not attend the said process. I find the entire thing demeaning to my person and will therefore distance myself from it,”
"It will present a challenge if Raila does not pick me as his running mate. That the panel will do all manner of things, conduct scientific opinion polls but we know the winning formula and so let us not beat around the bush," Kalonzo stated.
As the country prepares for the August 9 elections, leaders from the Kenya Kwanza faction have been courting the Wiper leader in recent days.
While speaking to mourners at the burial of UDA chairman Johnson Muthama's daughter, the leaders stated that if Kalonzo felt uncomfortable in the Uhuru-Raila-led coalition, they would welcome him to theirs.
While speaking to mourners at the burial of UDA chairman Johnson Muthama's daughter, the leaders stated that if Kalonzo felt uncomfortable in the Uhuru-Raila-led coalition, they would welcome him to theirs.
While speaking to mourners at the burial of UDA chairman Johnson Muthama's daughter, the leaders stated that if Kalonzo felt uncomfortable in the Uhuru-Raila-led coalition, they would welcome him to theirs.
However, their efforts to woo Kalonzo have been dismissed by a group of Azimio leaders. In an interview with NTV on May 3, Murang'a Women Representative Sabina Chege claimed that the Kenya Kwanza leaders' move was intended to cause division within their coalition.
She claimed that the leaders were preoccupied with the Azimio running mate debate in order to divert attention away from the looming fallout once Ruto names his running mate.
