Kindiki job on the radar as Ruto meets UDA top organ on ODM

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The jostling for the President William Ruto’s running mate that could potentially eliminate Prof Kithure Kindiki is set to begin in earnest as one of the ruling UDA top organ meet to sanction ODM talks.

The high-stakes meeting, bringing together members of the National Governing Council, is expected to set the tone for talks with ODM.

But the negotiations are already clouded by hardline positions, with ODM insisting the party will not settle for anything short of the Deputy President’s slot.

It is widely believed that Ruto is keen to lock in a broad-based alliance early, but the DP question is emerging as the most explosive hurdle.

Over the weekend, leaders from Western Kenya told ODM boss Oburu Oginga that the Orange party demands nothing less than the second in command.

Ikolomani MP Bernard Shinali on Sunday insisted the Orange party must not settle for less.

“As MPs, we ask that when you go to the discussion table, you should not go for anything less than the deputy presidency,” Shinali said on Sunday during "Linda Ground" engagement rally in Kakamega.

“ODM has numbers, history and a national footprint. We must stop selling ourselves short.”

The demand has inevitably placed Kindiki’s job on the table, opening a fresh battle within the ruling coalition.

Several heavyweights from UDA and allied outfits are quietly positioning themselves for the powerful post, viewing the coalition talks as a rare opening to reorder the 2027 ticket.

Some of the big names seen as possible running mates include Kindiki, Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi and Homa Bay Governor who doubles as ODM national chairperson Gladys Wanga.

Mining Cabinet Secretary Hassan Joho alongside his Treasury counterpart John Mbadi are also potential candidates.

Ruto has convened the UDA’s National Governing Council (NGC) on Monday in a decisive move to ratify a 2027 coalition talks with the ODM.

Aware of jitters the moves are causing within Kenya Kwanza, the UDA top brass has assures old partners of their position in the yet to be formed political machine.

The UDA meeting to be chaired by Ruto will happen at State House.

Ruto on Tuesday chaired the National Steering Committee of the ruling coalition where the NGC was resolved.

The special sitting will bring together all UDA elected and nominated leaders including governors, MPs, senators and MCAs, to endorse the talks that will formalise cooperation between UDA and ODM ahead of 2027.

UDA national chairperson Cecily Mbarire said the special NGC will also be attended by elected leaders from the defunct Amani National Congress which merged with UDA.

“As a result of the foregoing, the party shall hold a special National Governing Council on Monday, January 26, 2026 at 8 am, the meeting will be chaired by the party leader President William Ruto, at State House,” Mbarire announced.

“The NGC shall ratify the National Executive Committee resolution mandating the party leader to commence structured negotiations with ODM Party.”

“The NGC on Monday will also include members elected with ANC which merged with UDA.”

The meeting comes after weeks of behind-the-scenes negotiations between Ruto’s camp and ODM, with both sides framing the deal as a vehicle for stability, national unity and implementation of the Nadco and 10-point reform agenda.

Ruto is expected to brief the council on the political and policy gains of the pact.

The pro coalition leaders have argued that a structured coalition with ODM will broaden government’s base, calm political temperatures and unlock bipartisan support for key reforms in Parliament.

Ruto wants the NGC’s blessing to give the deal party legitimacy and shield it from internal dissent, particularly from leaders wary of accommodating long-time rivals.

The ruling party has also moved to assure its old partners in the Kenya Kwanza alliance that their place is secured even as the party court new members.

“We cannot go to look for new partners and lose the old ones. The Kenya Kwanza partners remains important partners and nothing will change,” Mbarire said.

Mbarire was speaking on Wednesday at UDA headquarters during a press conference attended by party secretary general Hassan Omar and Parliamentary majority leaders Kimani Ichung’wa (National Assembly) and Aaron Cheruiyot (Senate).

The majority leaders welcomed the ODM’s resolution to strike a deal with the ruling UDA terming it as a good step in uniting the country.

“We welcome and accommodate what they have said. We want to take that decision to the NGC on Monday,” the Kikuyu MP said.

The Kericho senator lauded the two-years of the broad-based government saying it is time to translate the good working relationship into an election pact.

“We appreciate the partnership that we have set up for two years, we must prepare for the next of phase of elections and this is the time,” Cheruiyot said.

ODM has been preparing its grassroots for the partnership, with senior figures fanning out to regions to sell the deal as a strategic engagement rather than a surrender.

He added that the 10-point agenda signed between the President and the late ODM leader Raila Odinga will form the basis of the talks.

“This afternoon (Wednesday) that committee will be briefing the President, our engagements with our colleagues goes beyond the 10-point agenda. We look forward into working with ODM even in the next elections next year,” Ichung’wah added.

The President will also use the Monday’s meeting to brief the council on the progress of the implementation of the UDA’s manifesto – The Plan – Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (Beta).

The ruling party also resolved to establish in its structures the UDA aspirants forum to keep tabs with all hopefuls intending to vie under the party.

“The inaugural aspirant’s forum shall be held on February 4, 2026 at State House Nairobi, a corresponding notice shall be issued later,” the party announced yesterday.

INSTANT ANALYSIS

If ratified, the coalition will mark the most significant post-election political realignment, bringing together Kenya’s two dominant political forces in an arrangement that could redraw opposition lines and reshape the road to 2027.