When Deputy President William Ruto was unveiling Mathira MP Rigathi Gachagua as his running mate, Tharaka Nithi Senator Kithure Kindiki was a no show.
Until the unveiling, Kindiki was a formidable candidate in the race to be Ruto's deputy.
It is no secret anymore that the race had narrowed down to Kindiki and Gachagua and the former had led in opinion polls and electoral college votes cast to determine the top candidate.
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Ruto had to make the final decision which saw Kindiki put aside and Gachagua win the battle for the running mate seat.
The 17 hours of deliberations ended on Sunday at 4 am, Kindiki confirmed on Tuesday evening in an interview with Citizen TV.
Kindiki revealed that they had agreed to meet on Sunday after the Sunday service for a press conference and his absence was not intentional.
He said he went for a church service where he worships even as the DP and other leaders worshipped at the Karen residence.
Kindiki said the DP's church service ended before his and by the time he was finishing his, the DP had already started addressing a press conference to unveil Gachagua.
He said he could not drive to the venue because he had already been late but said he passed the message to the DP that he won't manage.
According to the Senator, he already knew that the DP had settled on Gachagua as his running mate.
"I already knew the decision and we had agreed that the announcement is made after church. However, there was a miscommunication and by the time I left the service, the announcement had started. I didn’t want to come late and cause a scene," Kindiki said.
The Senator announced that he backs Gachagua and Ruto for the presidency despite not making it on the presidential ticket.
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