Laikipia East Member of Parliament (MP) Mwangi Kiunjuri has responded to the rising political tension over who will fill the Deputy President’s office in the next general election of 2027.

Kiunjuri has said that the Mount Kenya region will demand the slot from the votes that the region will give to William Ruto for his re-election.

Speaking at a morning interview with Kameme TV on Monday, February 23, 2026, the Mount Kenya region has been categorical that the region will demand the second-in-command post because the region will give more than 1.5 million votes in the next election, and this will guarantee the region the seat of Deputy President.

“Those are politics. The position of the Mount Kenya region was given to the Mount Kenya region because of the votes we shall give to William Ruto. To be given the position of deputy region, the principal of shareholding must be considered. What are you bringing to the table?” Kiunjuri said.

This was echoed by Governor Cecily Mbarire of Embu, who said that there is no way allied leaders will relinquish that seat and that Kindiki was a vital part of the region in national governance. Her statements highlighted a strong regional agreement that Kindiki, who is a fellow Mt Kenya member, should stay as the running mate and a possible successor deputy to 2027.

The broader political stance that Kiunjuri puts across is in line with other Mount Kenya leaders who have come out strongly to defend the status quo of the DP seat when they are being threatened to open up the seat to negotiation.

This is indicative of a larger political agenda to demand the influence of the region in the ruling United Democratic Alliance (UDA) and allies’ political formations as the 2027 elections become nearer.

Clash for the DP position between UDA and ODM

Recently, there has been a clash between the United Democratic Alliance and the Orange Democratic Movement, which has raised a debate as the latter seeks to join a coalition with the government side.

Party leader, Oburu Oginga, has declared that his party will indeed haggle over the Deputy President slot in coalition negotiations before the election, and this is a pointer to indicate that they will demand the position should formal political formations settle. This has elicited bitter responses among government supporters like Public Service Cabinet Secretary Geoffrey Ruku, who has issued a warning to ODM to keep its nose out of the grass, that there is no necessity to demand the deputy position, which would cause a strain on the current broad-based government set-up. Response and Mt Kenya Unity of Kindiki.

 Deputy President Kithure Kindiki himself has tried to damp down initial backbench talk, stating that the second-in-command position is not going anywhere and he is working on development matters, not pre-election politics. This statement strengthens the sentiment of the Mt Kenya leaders that it is a symbolic and viable priority in the region to maintain the DP position.