By Anderson Ojwang
The battle over the post of Deputy President in President William Ruto’s re-election campaign took a new turn after his principal assistant, Prof Abraham Kithure Kindiki, moved to set the record straight by stating, “I am the Deputy President of Kenya, and do not panic.”
Kindiki also said he has his eyes set on the presidency in the future and that he is the second in command in the country.
“I have heard that there are some people who have caused panic among you here. I want to ask you—you know I am the second in command in the government. I want to tell you to relax. I am the Deputy President of Kenya.”
Kindiki said the post of Deputy President was going nowhere and that he would be the running mate of President William Ruto in the 2027 General Election.
“And there is nowhere the seat is going. From Deputy President, there is no turning back but moving ahead. Those whom you hear speak, do not panic. We are the architects of politics. If you look at me, do you think I can be intimidated by people?” he said.
The Deputy President said he has been in politics for a long time and understands political timing better.
“I have been in politics for a long time. A great politician knows when to speak and when to be quiet. He knows the day of work and the day of politics. If you are a foolish politician who talks every day, what will help us as your leaders is not politicking and rallies but development,” he said.
Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) party leader Dr Oburu Oginga has been flip-flopping over the slot in the proposed ODM and UDA pre-election coalition pact.
Recently, during the ODM National Executive Council (NEC), Oburu said ODM will demand the Deputy President slot in the negotiations.
He denied having said the party would not negotiate for the Deputy President slot and said he was misquoted.
“There is something people misinterpreted. They said that I said ODM doesn’t want the seat of the Deputy President. It is the seat of the Deputy President we are eyeing. That is what we are eyeing,” he said.
Oburu said they do not have any problem with Deputy President Prof Abraham Kithure Kindiki on a personal level, but that the seat is a public office.
However, last week while in Kisumu, Oburu said before President William Ruto and his deputy, Prof Abraham Kithure Kindiki, that ODM was not eyeing the Deputy President slot.
“Deputy President, do not think we want your seat and that we want to chase you away. No.
Please, you are our friend, but as we negotiate, we are going to negotiate what our people deserve and what our party deserves. ODM is not a Luo party but a national party. We will negotiate fairly; we are not going to take anybody’s share. Everybody will get their fair share,” he said.
Oburu said he will lead ODM during the negotiations and promised to lead the party to Canaan through Singapore.
“I am leading ODM. When you follow flies, they will take you to the pit latrine, and when you follow bees, you will get to the honey.
We are in talks with UDA. We are going to make sure that we have more than what we currently have.
You can already see we managed to get for you these good ministries. We have Energy headed by Opiyo Wandayi and Finance, which is the heart of the government, led by John Mbadi. Even Alego MP Sam Atandi is the chairman of the Budget Committee,” he said.
But leaders from Mt Kenya loyal to the broad-based government have dismissed ODM’s ambitions, terming the proposal a non-starter.
The Mt Kenya leaders said the number two position is non-negotiable.
Tharaka Nithi Governor Muthomi Njuki said: “As much as we are in a broad-based government, the seat of the Deputy President is non-negotiable. That is a dream. ODM’s numbers cannot match what we have on this side.”
Public Service Cabinet Secretary Geoffrey Ruku added: “If ODM wants the Deputy President’s seat, we can discuss that in 2032 when Kindiki becomes President. For now, the seat is not vacant.”
Kiambaa MP Njuguna Kawanjiku said: “Waende juu, waende chini, hatuwachilii. Kama kuna kitu inaweza fanya tutoke kwa hii serikali na hiyo muungano, ni kiti ya namba mbili… tunaambia ODM warelax (Wherever they go, high or low, if there is anything that can make us leave the government, it is the Deputy President’s post. We ask ODM to relax).”
Thika MP Alice Ng’ang’a chimed in: “Naibu wa Rais, usiku na mchana, ni Kithure Kindiki… non-negotiable!”
Last year, during a TV interview, Oburu said ODM will not accept any position lower than that of Deputy President in any pre-election coalition ahead of the 2027 General Election.
Oburu then maintained that the party will only negotiate for top positions from a position of strength, not desperation.
“If we have to go for a lower position, it must not be lower than number two (Deputy President) in any formation. That is my take. We should not take less than that,” he said.
Oginga said ODM’s priority is to rebuild and unite its grassroots base to retain influence in national politics.
“I want my people of ODM to strengthen ODM as a party. If we start talking about the position we will occupy there, we will get nothing,” he said.
“Nobody will respect you or negotiate with you if you are a weak party. Our emphasis is on strengthening ODM so that we can negotiate for the top position in the land.”
A section of ODM leaders from the Coastal region, during Raila Odinga’s posthumous birthday, declared that their irreducible minimum was the Deputy President slot in 2027 in support of President Ruto.
The leaders proposed Cabinet Secretary Hassan Joho for the Deputy President post.
