By Anderson Ojwang
The changing political terrain and emerging realignments in the country are placing the seat of Deputy President in the broad-based alliance up for grabs.
The incumbent Prof Abraham Kithure Kindiki is not sitting safe as suitors whirl around for the seat, with Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) Director of Elections and Minority Leader Junet Mohammed declaring Cabinet Secretary Wycliffe Oparanya as the incoming Deputy President.
The Ol Kalou by-election, in which DCP won by 86 percent, and the recent defection from UDA to DCP in Mt Kenya are causing panic in President William Ruto’s re-election plan.
The 13 percent vote the UDA candidate received in the by-election was a pointer that the region had shifted political alliance to former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua and the region was likely to vote elsewhere in next year’s general elections.
In ODM, Cabinet Secretary Hassan Joho and Homa Bay Governor Gladys Wanga had expressed interest in the seat, and Junet’s ‘declaration’ may create a political storm in the party.
Deputy President
Junet on Sunday in Malava said ODM has settled on Oparanya for the Deputy President in the pre-election alliance pact between ODM and UDA.
“We are forming an alliance between ODM and UDA with a view to forming the 2027 government with President William Ruto. If UDA takes the President’s slot, ODM will go for the Deputy slot, and that is what we will negotiate for. The person who qualifies and has experience, a Cabinet Secretary, former deputy party leader, is Wycliffe Oparanya. When we shall have agreed on a pre-election coalition pact, UDA will bring the President while ODM will go for the Deputy President; we will take Oparanya for the seat,” he said.
Junet said ODM will follow queue and experience in nominating the ODM candidate for the post of Deputy President in the ODM-UDA coalition pact.
“There are people who have been with the late Raila Amolo Odinga. We have a queue, and you cannot bypass the queue.”
No betrayal of Raila
Oparanya gave a glowing tribute to Raila for his political mentorship and growth.
“I cannot betray Raila Odinga. I cannot leave ODM, and I have resolved to remain in ODM. I want to unite the Luhya community. We want to have someone who can lead us as ODM. We have our party leader Dr Oburu Oginga. In Western, we have Oparanya, and as ODM we have our plan,” he said.
Oburu said Oparanya was a close friend of Raila and welcomed him back to the fold.
“CS Oparanya was closer to my late brother Raila. He used to be very close to me, but he moved to Raila. Now I want to take him back so that he becomes much closer to me again. Welcome Oparanya.”
Not moving even an inch
Kindiki said the number of people eyeing his seat has doubled and welcomed Oparanya to the ring.
“The number has increased with Oparanya and others joining the fray. They are welcome. We will fight from within, and we are not moving an inch,” he said.
Kindiki said he will not move an inch and will fight from within the slot, and Kenya Kwanza was their government.
“This is our government. Some of our brothers advised that we should resign and leave. I objected and told them we cannot. You cannot build a house, complete and furnish it, and then abandon it for the forest,” he said.
Kindiki said it would be absurd for him to abandon what he has built for an unknown political destination.
“You have built a house, plastered it, furnished it with chairs and TV sets, and instead of enjoying it, you abandon everything to go live in the forest. I can’t do that, and I won’t,” he said.
No changes
Kindiki said some people were worried about how next year will be and if there will be changes.
“Next year will be like this. There will be no changes; the way it is currently,” he said.
Do not panic
Last year, Kindiki told his supporters not to panic and that he will remain the Deputy President.
“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 demand
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.
Joho
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.
