CS Ruku tells off Oburu faction over DP job

The remarks were made separately by Public Service Cabinet Secretary Geoffrey Ruku and Thika Town MP Alice Ng'ang'a.

Speaking from what he described as “this corner of the mountain” in Embu on Thursday, Ruku declared that DP Kithure Kindiki would remain in his post through 2027 and up to 2032.

In a fiery speech, he dismissed ODM’s renewed talk of targeting the position as misplaced within the current political arrangement.

“We have heard ODM party leader Senator Oburu Odinga claiming that his party wants the Deputy President’s seat come 2027,” Ruku said.

“We want to state this clearly. ODM, we agree we are in a broad-based government. However, Prof Kithure Kindiki remains the Deputy President now, in 2027, and up to 2032.”

Nganga declared if its not Kindiki Mount Kenya will walk out of the broad-based government.

"We have accepted broad-based because we have to unite Kenya. But the seat of deputy president is non-negotiable," she said. 

The strong statement by the Public Service CS lay bare the simmering contest over power-sharing expectations between allies in the broad-based arrangement, even as President William Ruto crafts his 2027 reelection platform.

Oburu, who had earlier appeared to soften his position, this week made a sharp U-turn during an ODM National Executive Committee meeting in Mombasa on the DP matter.

Addressing delegates, he clarified that party was indeed angling for the deputy presidency as part of its political bargaining with UDA.

“There are people who misinterpreted that I said we don’t want the deputy president’s seat. That is the seat we are really targeting,” Oburu said. “What I said was that we have no personal grudge against the deputy president, but the DP seat is public.”

The statement contrasted with his February 2 remarks in Kisumu during a Nyota funds issuance event. There he appeared to reassure Kindiki that ODM was not seeking to unseat him.

“Deputy President, do not think that we want your seat or that we want to remove you from your position. You are our friend,” he had said then, even as he insisted the party would not settle for less than what it considers its political due.

This is not the first time Oburu’s position has stirred unease.

On November 3 last year he had said that ODM would not accept any position below the deputy presidency in any negotiations, prompting strong reactions from leaders in Mt Kenya East, Kindiki’s political base. They warned of consequences if he was replaced.

Led by Buuri MP Mugambi Rindikiri, a section of Mt Kenya East MPs last year said there would be severe political consequences, including a potential fallout in the region and new political alliances, if Kindiki dropped from the position.

Speaking as chairperson of Meru MPs, Rindikiri said Kindiki is their preferred DP beyond 2027 and warned the community will "make their own plans" if this expectation is not met.

ODM chairperson Gladys Wanga called for what she termed a “50-50 share” of government in the anticipated UDA–ODM arrangement.

Governor Wanga said “the cow should be shared by half.”

The jostling for the position reflects the make or break situation Ruto faces in balancing the competing interests between the Kindiki camp and that of ODM.

Ruku’s remarks are an early line drawn by allies of the DP, signalling the position is non-negotiable in the 2027 matrix. His framing of Kindiki as “our son” and his projection of the DP’s presidency in 2032 mean it is not on their plan to let go.

However, Kindiki will have to demonstrate his value in terms of the numbers he brings to the table from the restive Mt Kenya to retain his post.

Tharaka Nithi Governor Muthomi Njuki said they are concerned by ODM’s demand for the DP's position, saying that as long as they remain in the broad-based coalition, the DP seat is not negotiable.