Deputy President seat not vacant until 2032, CS Ruku tells Oburu
Deputy President seat not vacant until 2032, CS Ruku tells Oburu
The Deputy President’s position is not up for negotiation ahead of the 2027 General Election, Public Service Cabinet Secretary Geoffrey Ruku has told ODM, dismissing recent claims by party leader Oburu Oginga that they are eyeing the slot.
Ruku insisted that Kindiki remains firmly in place as Deputy President and will retain the position through the next electoral cycle.
Ruku was responding to recent remarks by Oburu, who indicated that the party would strongly push for the DP’s post in the political arrangement with Kenya Kwanza ahead of 2027.
“Just the other day, I heard ODM leader Senator Oburu Oginga say they want the Deputy President’s position come 2027,” Ruku said.
He emphasised that leaders from the Mt Kenya region support the current broad-based government arrangement and are focused on service delivery rather than political bargaining.
“We want to tell him that from where we stand in this region, we agreed that we and ODM are in a broad-based government. We will continue working together under President William Ruto to strengthen national unity and ensure the government delivers services to wananchi,” he said.
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Ruku, who was speaking in Embu, however, made it clear that the power-sharing framework does not include reopening the Deputy President’s slot.
“Professor Kithure Kindiki is the Deputy President now. He is the one who will remain Deputy President in 2027 and serve up to 2032,” he stated.
In a conciliatory tone, the CS, who was accompanied by Embu Governor Cecily Mbarire, suggested that ODM could be considered for the position in the future, but only after the current political cycle.
“If ODM wants the Deputy President’s seat, we can give it to them in 2032, when Kindiki will be President of the Republic of Kenya. At that time, we can look for one of their members to become Deputy President,” Ruku said.
“For now, the Deputy President’s seat is not vacant in 2027. That position belongs to our son, Kithure Kindiki.”
Speaking during an ODM delegates meeting in Mombasa on February 12, Oburu made it clear that they would be negotiating for the post in their talks with UDA.
“That Deputy President seat is what we are targeting very strongly,” Oburu said.
He argued that ODM’s national popularity and widespread support justify its demand for a powerful position in any political coalition it joins, claiming that the party deserves its “fair share” in government based on its political influence and voter base.
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