Political analyst Herman Manyora has said President William Ruto faces a difficult decision over his choice of running mate for the 2027 General Election, arguing that replacing Deputy President Kithure Kindiki would come with significant political risks.
Speaking during an interview on a local radio station on Monday, Manyora said the president must carefully balance regional interests as political realignments gather pace ahead of the next polls.
He argued that retaining or replacing Kindiki presents competing political considerations, warning that either decision could influence President Ruto's support in key regions across the country.
The analyst argued that replacing the deputy president with a candidate from Luo Nyanza could alienate voters in the Mt Kenya region, which has traditionally been one of President Ruto's strongest political support bases.
At the same time, he explained that retaining Kindiki could disappoint leaders and supporters from Luo Nyanza, as well as the Coast and Western Kenya, who are seeking greater political representation within the government.
“It will be difficult for President William Ruto to drop Kithure Kindiki as his running mate in 2027. Ruto is now in a dilemma because he does not know who to give the running mate slot. If he removes Kindiki and gives it to Luo Nyanza, Mt. Kenya will move away from him.
“On the other hand, if he denies Luo Nyanza the position, he risks losing support from the region as well as the Coast and Western Kenya. That is why I think he will eventually settle on retaining Kindiki as his running mate going forward,” Manyora said.
He maintained that balancing the competing political expectations of different regions would be a difficult task for the president, adding that the prevailing political realities could ultimately compel him to retain Kindiki on the 2027 ticket.
Manyora's remarks come as the deputy president faces renewed scrutiny over his political standing following the release of a recent Infotrak survey on preferred running mates for President Ruto.
The poll, released on July 13, identified former Cabinet Secretary Hassan Joho, Homa Bay Governor Gladys Wanga and Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi as the leading regional choices for the deputy presidential position.
While Kindiki emerged as the preferred running mate in the Mt Kenya region, the survey suggested his appeal remains less pronounced outside his political backyard compared with other senior government and political figures.
According to the survey, Kindiki secured 41 percent support among respondents in Mt Kenya.
The poll also found that 33 percent of respondents in the region remained undecided, indicating that a sizeable proportion of voters had yet to settle on their preferred candidate for the deputy presidential position.
Kirinyaga Governor Anne Waiguru also featured among the preferred choices in the region, emerging as another notable option in the survey.
The findings have added to growing political debate over the composition of President Ruto's 2027 ticket, with analysts and political actors continuing to assess the regional dynamics that could shape the next General Election.