President William Ruto (left) interacts with Co-operatives CS Wycliffe Oparanya during a joint Cabinet and Principal Secretaries meeting at State House, Nairobi, on August 12, 2024. With them are PSs Susan Mang'eni and Abdi Dubat.
The coveted running mate position is emerging as a point of major political conflict within the broad-based government.
In the latest development, the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) has revived its claim for the position by listing it as its irreducible minimum in its pre-election talks with President William Ruto’s United Democratic Alliance (UDA) ahead of the 2027 General Election.
A section of ODM officials have since declared support for Cooperatives Cabinet Secretary Wycliffe Oparanya, while another set of members are backing his Mining CS Ali Hassan.
Governor Oparanya and DP Ruto. Mr Oparanya has not given details of his meeting with Dr Ruto on Wednesday.
Within the Kenya Kwanza alliance, another camp has also emerged and declared support for National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang’ula, as the perceived shift of the populous Mt Kenya from President Ruto has widened the battle.
The jostling for the second-in-command has gained currency following the embarrassing loss by the ruling United Democratic Alliance (UDA) in the Ol Kalou by-election.
Within Kenya Kwanza circles, President Ruto is said to be torn between retaining Prof Kithure Kindiki or picking a running mate from Western Kenya. Western is the country’s second-largest voting bloc, having registered 2.92 million voters after Mt Kenya, which boasts of 6.3 million votes.
In a country where voting patterns determine how key government positions are shared out, the ongoing political shifts and realignments are likely to influence Dr Ruto’s pick for a running mate.
With Mt Kenya – a key plank in Dr Ruto’s 2022 election – appearing to be drifting, the President’s political think tank is likely to go back to the drawing board in crafting a winning ticket. The new strategy could include replacing Prof Kindiki, with another politician with the potential of delivering a new voting bloc to ensure Kenya Kwanza secures a second term in office.
Deputy President Kithure Kindiki during the 11th Meru Central Dairy Cooperative Union farmers' field day in Meru town on July 25, 2026.
It is on this basis that ODM has revived its demand for the DP position as part of its pre-election coalition agreement with UDA.
According to ODM insiders, picking a member of the outfit is likely to appeal to ODM traditional bases, including the Western bloc.
At the weekend, National Assembly Minority Leader Junet Mohammed led MPs Catherine Omanyo (Busia), Elsie Muhanda (Kakamega), David Ndakwa (Malava), Peter Nabulindo (Matungu), Tindi Mwale (Butere), Nabii Nabwera (Lugari), Christopher Aseka (Khwisero) and Emmanuel Wangwe (Navakholo) backing Mr Oparanya for the position.
The leaders described Mr Oparanya as one of the party’s most experienced politicians, citing his close ties with the late Prime Minister Raila Odinga. The choice of Mr Oparanya is also seen as a strategy to counter the growing influence of Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna. Mr Sifuna, a member of the ODM breakaway. is being fronted to run for the presidency against President Ruto.
President Mwai Kibaki (right), Planning and National Development minister Wycliffe Oparanya (centre) and Speaker of the National Assembly Kenneth Marende (left) during the launch of the 2009 Kenya Population and Housing Census countdown at the KICC in Nairobi on Friday. The Census will be conducted on August 25, 2009. Photo/Fredrick Onyango
Mr Oparanya served in Mwai Kibaki’s Cabinet as Planning and National Development Minister between 2008 and 2013 before transitioning to serve as Kakamega governor for 10 years. He is among five ODM members that Mr Odinga ‘donated’ to President Ruto’s Cabinet following the 2024 youth-led protests.
“As ODM we shall be pushing for the position of the Deputy President and the person who has been close to Raila for years, is mature politically, has been a CS and ODM Deputy Party Leader is Wycliffe Ambetsa Oparanya. He is the one we will be presenting for that position,” said Mr Mohamed.
“There are those who claim to have the spirit of Raila Odinga, yet they sit with Rigathi Gachagua, that cannot happen. The spirit of Baba is here where Oparanya is. We have our party leader who is Dr Oburu Oginga and in Western we have Oparanya,” said Mr Mohamed.
The endorsement by Mr Mohamed and other ODM leaders has since stirred a political storm within the broad-based government. Prof Kindiki has since dismissed the ongoing lobbying for his position by assuring his supporters that he will remain Dr Ruto’s running mate in the next election.
"I want to state it clearly that I will be President William Ruto's running mate in next year's general elections. Those who are salivating for that position should forget it because the Ruto-Kindiki ticket will be on the ballot, and we shall win," said Prof Kindiki while speaking during the 11th Annual Meru Dairy Farmers' Field Day at the Meru ASK Showground in Gitoro.
Mr Oparanya, who was present during the rally in Malava, Kakamega, did not lobby for the position, but described himself as an experienced hand. Mr Oparanya told the Nation that his focus at the moment is to rally Western Kenya and ODM bases to back President Ruto’s re-election bid.
“Some of those pronouncements have caught me by surprise. I can tell you that my focus at the moment is to revive the party structures and ensure we deliver votes as ODM for President Ruto’s re-election,” CS Oparanya said.
“I am not supporting his re-election because he appointed me to the Cabinet, but because he has a good plan for the country,” he said.
Cooperatives and Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Cabinet Secretary Wycliffe Oparanya.
During the Malava rally, Mr Oparanya steered clear of the running mate talks, but narrated his close ties with Mr Odinga, and how his experience in various government positions have prepared him for any challenge.
“Everybody knows there was nobody who was close to Raila like I was. He taught me many things and ensured he left me in government. I cannot betray Raila and that is why when people implored me to leave ODM, I refused,” said Mr Oparanya.
He said his aim is to unite all the people of Western Kenya and rally them behind Dr Ruto and not the opposition.
“As Western we have agreed to support the broad-based government. All this time Raila used to take us to the government through the backdoor, this time, we have to enter through the door. Any negotiations that will happen between UDA and ODM, the Mulembe nation must be present, if not things will not be the same again,” said Mr Oparanya.
He said he will lead the leaders in combing Western for President Ruto’s votes.
Mr Aseka pointed out that they will support Dr Ruto’s re-election but on condition that the Cooperatives CS is his deputy.
“As ODM we have agreed that we shall back Ruto for president but the Deputy must come from ODM and he will be Oparanya,” said Mr Aseka.
Allies of Mr Wetang’ula have also intensified calls for President Ruto to pick a running mate from Western Kenya.
The politicians argue that the outcome of the by-election signals waning political support for Dr Ruto in Mt Kenya.
Bungoma Governor Ken Lusaka.
Bungoma Governor Kenneth Lusaka said the outcome should prompt the President to strengthen his alliance with Western Kenya, which he described as a reliable political partner ahead of 2027.
"The Ol Kalou by-election has shown us where we stand politically. We want to assure the President that Western Kenya is ready to support his re-election bid," said Governor Lusaka.
He argued that awarding the region the deputy president's position would strengthen support for President Ruto while complementing ongoing government development projects.
"The President should consider giving Western Kenya the deputy president's slot. Together with the many development projects already underway that will further consolidate support for his re-election," he said.
Sirisia MP John Waluke echoed the sentiments, saying leaders from the region had resolved to back President Ruto's second-term bid but expected Western Kenya to be rewarded with the running mate position.
"We are asking the President to consider Western Kenya for the deputy president's position and we believe Speaker Moses Wetang'ula is best suited for that role," said Mr Waluke, who chairs the Western Region Parliamentary Caucus.
He said such a move would galvanise support for President Ruto in Bungoma, Kakamega, BusWhy ODM is now fronting Oparanya for DP positionia, Vihiga and Trans Nzoia counties.
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