Suna East MP Junet Mohamed has said he would be happy if President William Ruto picks former Kakamega Governor Wycliffe Oparanya as Deputy President ahead of the 2027 general election.

Speaking in Busia County on Sunday, June 28, 2026, Junet openly backed an ODM-linked option for the country’s second-in-command position, adding fresh fuel to the ongoing succession debate.

His remarks came at a time when political leaders across Kenya are intensifying early campaigns and positioning for alliances ahead of 2027.

Junet told the gathering that he supports the idea of the deputy president coming from the Orange Democratic Movement.

“Na mimi naunga mkono wale wanaosema deputy president atoke kwa ODM. Ninaunga mkono,” he said.

He directly named Oparanya as his preferred candidate, arguing that party loyalty should guide the decision.

“Oparanya akiwa deputy president, atakuwa karibu na mimi kushinda mtu mwingine ambaye ametoka kwa chama nyingine. Ni mtu wa chama chetu. Sini kweli hiyo? So tuungane ili tuende kuwinda pamoja,” Junet said.

He stressed that Oparanya should not be viewed through ethnic lines but through party alignment.

“Hatuwezi kusema ati sasa kwa sababu yeye hatakuwa deputy president, sasa yeye ni mluhya. Hapana, yeye ni mtu wa ODM,” he added.

Junet went further, linking his support to what he described as a long-term political strategy within ODM.

“Nitafurahi sana kama Ruto anaweza chukua Oparanya kama deputy president. Atakuwa amekamilisha ndoto ya Baba ya kuwa mtu ya ODM, ako katika barabara na safari ya kuwa rais wa Jamhuri ya Kenya,” he said, referring to the late ODM leader Raila Odinga.

Wycliffe Oparanya, a former governor of Kakamega County, currently serves as Cabinet Secretary for Co-operatives and SMEs.

Junet’s remarks reflect growing discussions within the Orange Democratic Movement about its role in the 2027 election.

Although ODM has engaged with the broad-based political arrangement supporting President Ruto’s government, internal debate continues on how the party should secure influence in the next administration.

Junet’s statement in Busia signals a push for ODM to secure the deputy president position rather than remain only a supporting coalition partner.

Rivalry for the top seat

Junet’s remarks come as leaders from Western Kenya intensify their own push for representation at the top of government.

In recent days, several leaders from the region have backed National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang’ula as a possible running mate for President Ruto.

Some governors and MPs argue that Western Kenya should be rewarded with the deputy presidency in exchange for strong electoral support in 2027.

They have linked development gains in roads, markets, and health projects to their calls for political inclusion.

This push has created a parallel lobbying track, with different leaders from the same region endorsing competing political outcomes.

At the same time, leaders from Mount Kenya have defended the position of the current Deputy President, Kithure Kindiki.

They argue that the region played a key role in the 2022 election and expect continuity in leadership representation.

Some MPs have warned against political efforts aimed at weakening Kindiki’s position, insisting that development matters more than succession politics.

This has added another layer of tension to the already complex negotiations shaping Ruto’s 2027 strategy.

President William Ruto now faces competing demands from different regions and political blocs.