Every election has it's dynamic.
Ruto knew that Uhuru as candidate was going to bring A game in GEMA - get 28-30 percent - he bring A game in Kalenjin 14-15 and they only need 5-10 percent to win from rest of the country.
Ruto is one who initiated Uhuru quest for power - otherwise Saitoti was far ahead - and for Ruto it was just dusting MOI 2002 plan that had aborted when Raila had split Kikuyu by supporting Kibaki.
Now even if you choose from Kiambu - Uhuru will still have his influence there - and in entire GEMA - at best Ruto can hope for a B game - but need to plan for C game there. In both voter preferences and turnout.
Therefore for Ruto - GEMA at best will bring him 20% percent. His Kalenjin maybe 15 percent - that takes him to 35 percent.
So it's important for him to court Non-GEMA. And therefore he has to be sensitive and run a campaign that appease both GEMA and Non-GEMA.
Now quickest way to make Non-GEMA voter disappear is to appoint yet another Kikuyu - but to appoint from Kiambu - would be stupidity of highest order.Therefore I believe for Ruto he has to be extremely careful with another Kikuyu DPORK.
The propaganda that was unleashed in Mululu by Uhuru - saw UDA lose in Matungu, Kabuchai and Machakos.
It's very lethal propaganda that has been the engine of Raila since 2007
It's very lethal propaganda that sustained Moi in 1990s - anti-Kikuyu propaganda now add Kalenjin - and you a very toxic mix.
That propaganda can only be overturned if GEMA bring their A game with selection of DPORK
All evidence suggest they wont - we can at best expect a B game - but again plan for C game.
Yes GEMA C game is still better than anybody A game - so DPORK must be GeMA.
Therefore for Ruto - I'd go for kikuyu if Raila choose a Kikuyu - he wont be able to run anti-kikuyu propaganda or anti-two tribes have dominated us propaganda.
If he chooses Kalonzo - I WONT pick a Kikuyu - a GEMA like Kindiki or Muturi works for.
And to play safe - I would pick Kindiki or Muturi. To play risky - I would pick Ndidi to excite Kikuyus - but rest of country will see that PORK is gone now until 2037 - because Ndidi will be playing for LONG TERM. They wont like it.
Kindiki many GEMA see as unable to stand up to Ruto - more a Ruto poodle - so they may not like it.
Many want Gachagua because he is very strong willed and can protect GEMA interest
So Muturi seems to fit the bill - GEMA who is NON-GEMA and who can face Ruto as an "equal".
I'd therefore rank Muturi and Gachagua high - wild cards remaind Ndidi and Kindiki
RV , I do believe you are trying to measure all outcomes, However Real politics is different . Ruto as we speak will score good numbers in all Mt Kenya counties his lowest will be Kiambu ,Kiambu have some superiority complex which exibited itself in 1997,2002 and 2007 elections also its the County with the largest number of voters. Just like in 2013 when Ruto climbed down due to realpolitics that you require GEMA to win elections ,He needs to court that county and if he really wants to improve his numbers there he might need to opt getting a Kiambu person as running mate. The rest of Mt Kenya are solidly behind him simply because of Raila hate ,he shiuld focus his energy on Kiambu. The way Ive seen Ruto operating before he will make a realistic decision away from theories.( Read 2013 elections when he decided against all odds to join and deputize Uhuru when some of his advisors were asking him ti join Raila , Run alone or acomodate Kalonzo in their line up.