Deputy President Kithure Kindiki stood firm against pressure from the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) on Saturday, February 14, 2026.

He told ODM to stop the threats and made it clear that his position as deputy president is not up for negotiation ahead of the 2027 elections.

Kindiki addressed the political noise directly.

“Msibabaishwe na ile mambo kidogo kidogo ambayo mnaskia hapa na pale. Hii mambo ingine yote ya siasa, sisi ndio mafundi wa siasa, my friend. Na hatuongeangi saana. We know we talk at the right time,” he said.

He dismissed the rumours and threats as minor distractions, insisting that he and his allies know how to handle politics and speak only when necessary.

ODM pushes for power

The tension comes after ODM leaders pushed for a major role in any future government arrangement with President William Ruto’s United Democratic Alliance (UDA). At a delegates’ meeting in Mombasa on February 12, 2026, the ODM leader Oburu Odinga clarified that the party wants the DP slot.

“That deputy president seat is what we are targeting very strongly.” He argued that ODM’s nationwide support entitled the party to a high-level position as its “fair share” in government.

Homa Bay Governor Gladys Wanga reinforced this position on the same day Kindiki spoke. At the Linda Ground Tours event in Bwiti, Lunga Lunga Constituency, Kwale County, she urged ODM to end its long stay in opposition.

“We have told our leader Dr Oburu Oginga that we as a party have sat in opposition for 20 years, and come 2027, we do not want to stay in opposition anymore,” she said. She added: “We want the ODM party to form the next government in 2027. We should be the government or part of the coalition that forms the government.”

Wanga also directed Oburu to negotiate with like-minded parties, starting with UDA.

“We have told Dr Oburu to continue negotiations with parties that have similar policies to us. He should start negotiations with Honourable Ruto. And when we go there, we want to go as a party that has strength,” she said.

Mt Kenya leaders push back

Kindiki’s allies hit back sharply. Maragua MP Mary Wamaua Waithera defended his position.

“Si tuko position namba mbili? Mnataka hiyo ichukuliwe? Si umeskia ODM wamekuja sana? Tusipoendelea na hii serikali, ile ambayo tumeona kazi yake, kiti yetu ya number two, ya Kithure Kindiki iko wapi? Yako tunandefend,” she said, stressing the need to protect the deputy president slot.

Other leaders from the Mt Kenya region rejected ODM’s demands outright. Public Service Cabinet Secretary Geoffrey Ruku said in Embu on February 13, 2026:

“Professor Kithure Kindiki is the Deputy President now. He is the one who will remain DP in 2027 and serve up to 2032.” He told ODM to wait until 2032.

Tharaka Nithi Governor Muthomi Njuki called the idea a dream due to ODM’s lack of numbers.

“As much as we are in a broad-based government, the seat of the Deputy President is non-negotiable,” he said.

Kiambaa MP Njuguna Kawanjiku added:

“Let them go up, let them go down, we won’t release it… we tell ODM to relax.”

The dispute has exposed strains in the broad-based government. While cooperation exists, the Deputy President position remains a hard boundary for Kindiki’s supporters, who link it to Mt Kenya’s influence in the ruling coalition.