ODM Party Leader Oburu Oginga speaking on August 4, 2026, at State House, Nairobi / ScreengrabODM leader Oburu Oginga has said he is ready to serve as Deputy President, arguing that the post remains open for negotiation as ODM backs President William Ruto's re-election.
Oburu said ODM will not field a presidential candidate and will instead support President William Ruto's re-election bid.
He, however, noted that all other positions in the anticipated political arrangement remain open for negotiation, singling out the Deputy President's seat.
"This time round, ODM will not field a candidate because we will support President William Ruto. All the other positions are negotiable, particularly number two. Don't you think I deserve to be number two? Can I not be number two?" Oburu said.
He expressed confidence in his ability to serve in the role, declaring, "Mimi nimetosha (I'm able)."
Oburu spoke on Tuesday at State House when President William Ruto hosted village elders from across the country.
This comes as leaders within the broad-based government continue to publicly discuss the future of the political cooperation between ODM and UDA ahead of the 2027 General Election.
The broad-based arrangement, formed after political talks between President Ruto and former ODM leader Raila Odinga, has seen several ODM members appointed to Cabinet and other government positions, while the party has maintained that it remains independent.
ODM said it remained committed to the broad-based administration but insisted its identity would not be diluted.
In an earlier statement, the party said it was "standing firm" in protecting ODM's identity while advancing social justice and equity within the broad-based government.
ODM said it had officially begun negotiations on collaborative policy frameworks with its partners but stressed that the party "is distinct and cannot and will not be swallowed."
ODM deputy party leader Simba Arati declared that ODM will not cede the deputy president position to the United Democratic Alliance in the 2027 General Election unless President Ruto or Deputy President Kindiki defects to ODM.
Arati said any future electoral arrangement between ODM and UDA must reflect what he described as fairness between the two parties.
He said that if the two parties continued working together politically and President Ruto remained the presidential candidate, the deputy president position should go to ODM.
"We have told them it should be 50-50. If Ruto is the presidential candidate, then the Deputy President should come from our side. Let us agree on that," Arati said.
He added that ODM had several leaders capable of deputising President Ruto, naming Mining, Blue Economy and Maritime Affairs Cabinet Secretary Hassan Joho, Cooperatives and MSMEs Cabinet Secretary Wycliffe Oparanya and party leader Oburu Odinga among those who could occupy the position.
"Joho is here. I have heard Oparanya's name being mentioned. Even our party leader can stand for deputy president. We shall organise ourselves," he said.
Arati said ODM would only relinquish its claim to the deputy president position if either President Ruto or Deputy President Kindiki joined the Orange party.
