Kenya's two leading presidential candidates have finally chosen, taking advantage until the last of the extension granted by the IEBC Electoral Commission, their "running mates," or those who will become vice presidents if they are nominated as head of state.
Both William Ruto and Raila Odinga opted to please Mount Kenya's powerful lobbies by dividing the important pie of the nine counties surrounding it.
Odinga also went the extra mile by choosing a woman, the "iron lady" of Kenyan politics, a former justice minister during Uhuru Kenyatta's first term and known for her intransigence as the magistrate she is by profession.
William Ruto opted for a Kikuyu who is his longtime associate, Nyeri MP , elected in the Mathira constituency, Rigathi Gachagua, described as a great orator and at least as controversial a figure as his "boss." Gachagua, after falling out of President Kenyatta's good graces, was handed corruption charges that still have him entangled in court and have frozen his bank accounts. He, endowed with a style that the national newspaper Daily Nation calls "abrasive," blamed Kenyatta for it all, branding the allegations against him as substantial vindictiveness.
It was quite clear that both Ruto and Odinga, not belonging to Kenya's largest ethnic group and always the one holding the ranks of Kenyan governments, would opt for a Kikuyu exponent.
This can also be read as good news, because one of the international fears about the upcoming elections, that of a new tribal feud, could be averted.
However, the first earthquake after these choices came in Raila Odinga's ODM house, one of the strong allies, the kamba Kalonzo Musyoka who with his Wiper party had been allied with the majority-opposition bloc (the Azimio La Umoja coalition) decided to cancel the previous agreement and run as a presidential candidate for his party.
The hope probably is to be able to shift votes and then decide in the home stretch or even after the elections, which side to be on.
As of today, therefore, the actual election campaign can begin.