The Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) has dug in on its demand for the Deputy President’s position in the emerging political partnership with President William Ruto’s Kenya Kwanza administration.
ODM Deputy Party Chair and Kisii Governor Simba Arati said the party would not surrender its claim to the position, insisting that discussions on the sharing of power should focus on institutions rather than individuals.
Arati said ODM was not targeting Deputy President Kithure Kindiki personally and urged him not to feel threatened by the party’s position.
“Yes, we tell our brother Kindiki not to fear. He should only be aware of what we are resolute about as a party as we move forward,” Arati said.
The Governor spoke on Tuesday at Kisii National Polytechnic, where he hosted First Lady Rachel Ruto during her tour of the region. The First Lady was meeting various women’s groups.
“We are not targeting Kindiki as a person. We are talking about the office of the Deputy President and its place in the larger framework of sharing power,” Arati said.
His remarks add fresh tension to negotiations surrounding the future of the broad-based government arrangement that brought together President Ruto’s Kenya Kwanza administration and sections of the opposition following the political upheaval triggered by the 2024 protests.
Arati said any negotiations on the political partnership should establish a clear power-sharing framework, with ODM seeking a meaningful stake in government if the current arrangement develops into a formal political coalition.
“The Deputy President’s seat is not negotiable when we are discussing the power-sharing matrix. We are looking at the office, not the individual occupying it,” he said.
The ODM position is likely to intensify competition within the broad-based government as political parties begin positioning themselves ahead of the 2027 General Election.
The Deputy President’s position has emerged as a potentially sensitive issue in the negotiations, particularly as President Ruto’s allies seek to consolidate the Kenya Kwanza coalition while ODM pushes for a greater role in the administration.
At the same event, First Lady Rachel Ruto appealed to the Gusii community to support President Ruto’s bid for a second term, arguing that the administration should be given more time to implement its development agenda.
Ms Ruto urged residents to assess the government on the basis of its projects and programmes rather than political rhetoric.
She cited investments in education, healthcare, agriculture and economic empowerment as areas where the administration was seeking to improve the lives of Kenyans.
The First Lady’s appeal comes as the Gusii region increasingly takes centre stage in political calculations ahead of the 2027 elections.
The region, which commands a significant voting population, is expected to attract competing political parties and presidential hopefuls seeking to secure its support.
With ODM now openly demanding the Deputy President’s position, the unfolding negotiations could become a key test of the durability and political direction of the broad-based government ahead of the 2027 polls.
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