The race for the deputy president position in the broad-based camp continues to attract interest from across the regions among members of the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM).
Barely two weeks after some leaders proposed Wycliffe Oparanya, the Cabinet Secretary for Cooperatives and MSMEs, to be President William Ruto's running mate in the 2027 General Elections, the ODM party leader Oburu Oginga has boldly announced declared his interest in the position.
On Tuesday, during a function at State House in Nairobi where the President hosted a group of village elders from across the country, Dr Oburu seized the opportunity to express interest in bein Ruto’s running mate.
“This time, ODM will not have a candidate for the presidential seat. Our candidate is President William Ruto but all the other positions are negotiable, particularly number two (deputy president). Don’t you think I deserve number two? I’m also qualified,” Dr Oburu said.
President William Ruto (right) and Cooperatives Cabinet Secretary Wycliffe Oparanya during his homecoming ceremony in Butere, Kakamega County.
Photo credit: PCS
Dr Oburu, 82, maintained that the ODM party would support President Ruto’s bid for a second term in office.
However, in return, as one of the largest affiliated parties in the broad-based arrangement, the party would negotiate for the deputy party position.
He continued to laud the President and the Kenya Kwanza administration for the development across the country and being the first government to think of allocating monthly stipend to the village elders.
“The President is trying his best and the opposition should also try to bring their programmes, what they want to do to the people. Would they have paid the village elders if they were in power? They would not.”
The Siaya Senator stated also that those who are in opposition are well known, and that their interests can be predicted, and that paying village elders would not be one of their agenda.
President William Ruto and ODM leader Oburu Odinga at the United Democratic Alliance (UDA)-Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) Joint Parliamentary Group meeting at the Kenya International Convention Centre, Nairobi.
Photo credit: Wilfred Nyangaresi | Nation Media Group
“My late brother Raila Odinga left us in broad-based government and we are not going to be swallowed by him (Ruto) but we are going to work together to form a strong government.”
His remarks come as President Ruto moves to consolidate Nyanza and the Western region votes amid fallout with the Mt Kenya region, which largely backed his bid in the 2022 General Elections.
The search for Ruto’s running mate has also sparked interest in the Mt Kenya region, where the Deputy President, Prof Kithure Kindiki, has announced his intention to retain his current position in 2027.
Prof Kindiki stated that the region fully supports the President’s re-election and cannot afford to build a house only to leave it at the last minute.
Kirinyaga Governor Anne Waiguru is also among the names being mentioned as the potential candidates to be the second in command if the current regime succeeds in the next election.
