President William Ruto’s inner circle has issued a blunt rebuke to the Orange Democratic Movement, insisting that the deputy presidency is off limits in any future electoral pact.
The warning, delivered at a church service in Nandi county, underscores mounting tensions within the broad-based government as ODM pushes for a formal coalition ahead of the 2027 polls.
Speaking at the Anglican Church of Kenya’s Kapsabet diocese, Nandi senator Samson Cherargei declared that the positions of president and deputy president were non-negotiable.
“The deputy president of Ruto will be Professor Kindiki,” he said, framing the retention of Kithure Kindiki as a reward for loyalty. “This will be a thank you to him for standing with our son Ruto.”
The remarks followed statements from ODM figures demanding a running mate slot. Siaya senator Oburu Oginga, the party’s acting leader, told NTV that ODM would settle for nothing less than the number two position.
Potential candidates include Treasury secretary John Mbadi, Cooperatives counterpart Wycliffe Oparanya, Mining’s Hassan Joho, and Homa Bay governor Gladys Wanga.
Mombasa governor Abdulswamad Nassir, ODM’s deputy leader, echoed the call, while seven MPs from Mt Kenya East warned Ruto against any deal that displaces Kindiki.
“Mt Kenya East is fully behind him, but our support stands because of Kindiki,” said Buuri MP Mugambi Rindikiri. “The ODM brigade should forget about this seat.”
Western Kenya lawmakers countered by backing Oparanya, arguing the region deserves a shot at national leadership. With Ruto’s grip on Mt Kenya loosening after the 2022 landslide, analysts suggest he may need ODM’s western strongholds to secure re-election.
The death of Raila Odinga has removed Ruto’s most formidable rival, leaving the president to navigate a delicate balancing act. Retaining Kindiki risks alienating ODM; sidelining him could fracture Kenya Kwanza’s core. As negotiations loom, the deputy presidency has become the fault line in Kenya’s fragile unity government.
