Former Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Mithika Linturi has come out to send a warning to Deputy President Kithure Kindiki following the recent statement from the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) acting party leader Oburu Oginga, demanding a deputy president slot for his party ahead of the 2027 elections.

Speaking to a local TV station on Saturday, November 8, 2025, Linturi argued that President William Ruto will drop Kindiki to consolidate votes from the late former Prime Minister Raila Odinga’s strongholds.

Linturi directly informed Kindiki to enjoy his remaining months in office as he prepares for the decision ahead of the 2027 polls.

“ODM has started to say that they cannot go short of anything else other than the Deputy President. So when they start demanding a DP, and you come to Mt Kenya, Kindiki has no luck,” Linturi stated.

“My brother, I am not wishing you ill because we have never been in competition, and you are not the one who chased me, but I want to prepare you. Even the months he has left as DP are 22. Because he will not—and he will not be William Ruto’s choice,” he added.

Oburu’s stand

During a recent TV interview, Oburu hinted that ODM will only support the ruling party, the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) and President William Ruto’s 2027 re-election bid if the former Raila Odinga-led political outfit is assured of a deputy president position.

“I would like to say this way, I want my people of ODM to strengthen the ODM as a party. If we are going to start talking about the position we will occupy there, we will get nothing,” Oburu stated.

“Nobody will respect you or negotiate with you if you are a weak party. Our emphasis is on strengthening our party, ODM, so that we can negotiate for the top position in the land,” he added.

With ODM’s demand, Linturi asked Mt Kenya residents to analyse and establish how many votes Kindiki can bring to the table to convince Ruto to settle on him as his running mate in 2027.

While insisting that his chances are lean, Linturi further explained that Kindiki had failed to neutralise Rigathi Gachagua’s influence in the Mt Kenya region.

“How many votes does Kindiki have? The way you are, I am telling you, be prepared: Ruto is very heartless, he doesn’t have friends, you can’t trust him. He has already betrayed us; we can only be foolish to be cheated by him a second time,” the former Agriculture cabinet secretary retorted.