The Running Mate: Indications that Azimio Has Most Likely Settled On Sabina Chege

Sometime last year, the Muranga Woman Representative, Sabina Chege, campaigned in Nyanza with Junnet Mohammed, Hassan Joho, and other youthful Azimio leaders. The reception she got was unique and surprising even to herself. The people loved her; she was like a people magnet everywhere she went. They wanted more of her. This left many tongues wagging, asking in what capacity she was campaigning beyond her home region of Mount Kenya. This year, Sabina Chege announced that she would neither defend her seat nor seek any other elective seat anywhere. She said she will concentrate more on National politics, campaigning for Raila Amollo Odinga.

In a world where the optics of a political situation matter more than what's really happening, it is very likely that Sabina Chege, the running mate, the future Deputy President, was being unveiled back then. Most Kenyans could not comprehend nor figure it out then. In my opinion, this decision was arrived at a long time ago, and the Azimio principals, Raila and Uhuru, have only been managing the expectations of Kenyans. Still, they had already settled for Sabina Chege. Looking back, one can now piece a series of seemingly unrelated events that, when put together, give you a clear picture of the behind-the-scenes machinations to make Sabina Chege deputize Raila.

After the Nyanza tour, Sabina Chege embarked on series of a meet the people tour campaigns around the country. There is no Azimio rally that Sabina Chege has missed, whether in Nairobi or upcountry. She has been in the local media, TV stations, vernacular radio stations, and any other platform she could sell Azimio policies, with just one message; elect Raila Odinga. She has been indefatigable, a constant Raila shadow. She even accompanied Raila on the USA tour.

After the late Mwai Kibaki's burial in Nyeri last week, Raila held a series of rallies and several stakeholders' meetings that encompassed leaders from Nyandarua, Laikipia, and Nyeri, among others. Sabina Chege seemed to coordinate and direct these meetings everywhere they went. She was master of ceremony, campaigned, and read the Mt Kenya list of expected deliverables on their behalf. She represented both Azimio and the Agikuyu interests well, wearing bother hats effortlessly. Afterward, she was seen in Kasarani watching the mashemeji derby with Raila And Uhuru, among other Azimio leaders. Earlier, it is rumored she had met Raila In Mombasa with her husband, and details of their discussion are unknown, but it's not rocket science.

Read also: The Runningmate Headache.

Several times, the Azimio team tasked with helping Raila with the naming of the running mate has said that the topmost criteria and requirement to be Raila's running mate is to be the opposite of the current holder of this office William Samoei Ruto. Ruto's pushy, overly ambitious, and too outspoken nature has repeatedly put him on the warpath with his boss. He has even openly had a public exchange of bitter and sarcastic words with his boss President Uhuru Kenyatta. Sabina Chege, in many ways, is the opposite of Ruto. She is fiercely loyal and is seen as not overly ambitious enough to sabotage her boss. 

In many ways than one, the next Deputy President is likely to be a woman. There are three serious women candidates on the shortlist of 11 possible candidates: Martha Karua, Charity Ngilu, and Sabina Chege. One of these women will be Kenya's First woman Deputy President, most likely Sabina Chege. Martha Karua is considered too volatile and, in many ways, too ambitious and a replica of William Ruto. The events leading to the grand coalition government after the post-election violence of 2007 left an indelible mark on her perceived character. She is seen as the hardliner behind many stalemates during the negotiations that pitted her side and Raila's. The man he now wants to deputize. This is her Achilles heel, which will cost her the Running mate's position. Then there is Charity Ngilu, who has already confirmed that she will be defending her gubernatorial seat in Kitui county. The inclusion of her name in the shortlist was meant to counter Kalonzo Musyoka and, in a way, infuriate him and maybe force him into submission. To what extent? Your guess is as good as mine. Kalonzo and Ngilu will never see eye to eye on many issues, and this one is no different. Uhuru and Raila are banking on the Ukambani politics on this. Ruto rooting for Kalonzo to be Raila's running mate also works against him.

All these factors and happenings point to Sabina Chege being the chosen one when looked at together. The charade that's the Noah Wekesa-led team is a charade. It is meant to legitimize the process and decision that was arrived at longtime ago. Sabina is Uhuru's candidate, and she brings with her many advantages to Raila; she is young, from Muranga, and above all, a beautiful woman. Her beauty appeals to many men, young and old, from across the divide, while at the same time, being a woman will also bag the women's votes. Sabina Chege was the chosen one way back, and nothing will change that, not even the two-year-old tantrums from Kalonzo Musyoka. The Noah Wekesa team will just rubber-stamp this decision. Honestly, I think she will make an excellent Deputy President.