By Anderson Ojwang
After the recent declaration by the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) party leader, Dr Oburu Oginga, that his party was not eyeing the deputy president slot in the pre-election pact, President William Ruto has moved to declare his confidence in his deputy, Prof Kithure Kindiki.
Speaking at the UDA Aspirant Forum, President Ruto declared that Kindiki was an able assistant and that he has confidence in his leadership and fits the bill.
“Huyu Naibu wa Rais, Abraham Kithure Kindiki, anatosha ama hatoshi? Ni fire si fire? You know, at one time, I was Uhuru Kenyatta’s deputy.
The work this gentleman is doing is what I did when I was the deputy to President Uhuru Kenyatta. That is the truth. I am happy that currently, I have a principal assistant who knows his duties and role.
Allow me to ask, if it was that other former deputy, could he have the brains to understand his role like Kindiki does? Now you know, my work has been lessened. I have an assistant who understands the government,” he said.
On Monday, in Kisumu, Oburu said before President Ruto and his deputy, Prof Abraham Kithure Kindiki, that ODM was not eyeing the deputy president slot.
Oburu said, “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 it is a national party. We will negotiate fairly. We are not going to take anybody’s share. Everybody will get their fair share,” he said.
Last year, in a TV interview, Oburu had declared that ODM would demand the deputy presidency in the coalition arrangement.
Oburu said then that ODM would not accept any position lower than that of Deputy President in any pre-election coalition ahead of the 2027 General Election.
He maintained that the party would only negotiate for top positions from a position of strength and 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 are going to 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.”
Oburu, on Monday, said he would be leading ODM during the negotiations and promised to lead the party to Canaan through Singapore.
“I am leading ODM. When you follow flies, it 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 have currently.
We will start talking. With UDA, some people are saying we are in a hurry. We are not in a hurry. The election is next year. We must prepare in advance. I want to tell you that I will take you to Canaan through Singapore.”
A section of ODM leaders from the Coastal region, during Raila Odinga’s posthumous birthday, declared that their irreducible minimum was the slot of Deputy President in 2027 in exchange for supporting President Ruto.
The leaders proposed Cabinet Secretary Hassan Joho for the Deputy President post.
During a recent ODM Linda Ground meeting in Kisumu, Rarieda MP Otiende Amollo told Oburu that, as the party leader of ODM, he could not double up as the lead negotiator in the ODM–President William Ruto’s United Democratic Alliance (UDA) pre-election coalition pact.
“Mokuongo amor. Chieng kacha an ema ne awacho ni structured negotiations. Sani Daktari ka itelonwa, joma obiro ka, oyie ni nyaka wadhi e structured negotiations. To nyaka wadhiye
(At the beginning, it was me who spoke about structured dialogue. Currently, Dr Oburu, you are our leader. Everyone in attendance agrees that we must have structured negotiations).
Ka iwacho ni structured negotiation, ok ochuno ni ipingo. Matiende ni wa gin lemo moko. Wadwaro ni wan bende omedwa lemo
(If we talk about structured negotiations, it does not mean we are against the talks. We are demanding more slots).
Daktari saa ma wadhi e structured negotiations, in kik ibed mbele bed chien. In ja telo. Thuonu ok bed mbele. Wasigu nyalo nege
(Dr Oburu, now we are heading into structured negotiations. You should not lead the talks. You are our leader and you cannot be at the front. You could be killed and we would remain without a leader).
Ibed ki ji ma kisungu luongo ni the first right of acceptance and the first right of refusal
(You must have what they call the first right of acceptance and the first right of refusal).
Ka dhi maber to iwacho ni ayie. Ka dhi marach to iwacho ni adagi. Wan ema itiyo kodwa. Wan e foot soldiers. Jowa mantie gi are foot soldiers. Kata onegwa onge rach tek ni thuonwa to pod ngima
(If it is right, you accept, and if it is wrong, you refuse. Use your foot soldiers. Even if the foot soldiers are killed, that is normal, provided the leader remains safe),” he said.
