CS Ruku slams Oburu over remarks on DP position in ODM-UDA arrangement
By Ndiritu Wanjiru, February 13, 2026Public Service Cabinet Secretary Geoffrey Ruku has slammed the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) party leader Oburu Odinga over his recent remarks that the party is interested in the deputy president position in the 2027 elections.
Ruku has warned the ODM party that the Deputy President position will not be vacant in the 2027 elections, saying that the current Deputy President, Kithure Kindiki, will not be shortchanged.
In a video shared by outspoken lawyer and political strategist Saitabao Kanchory on Friday, February 13, 2026, Ruku has called on the members of the ODM party to shun their ambitions for the deputy president, saying that as much as the Mount Kenya region has accepted to be in the broad-based government, the position will be held by Kithure Kindiki until the year 2032.
He has urged the ODM party to consider negotiating for the position after Kindiki has completed that period.
“Chama cha ODM, tumekubali tuko katika broad-based government na tutafanya kazi na William Ruto tukiwa tumeshikana ndani ya broad-based government ili kuendeleza umoja wa Taifa letu la Kenya na kuhakikisha kwamba serikali ya Kenya inafanyia wananchi kazi sawasawa.
“Lakini Mheshimiwa Kithure Kindiki ndiye Naibu wa Rais wa Kenya kwa sasa, na ndiye atakuwa Naibu wa Rais kuelekea 2032. Kama Chama cha ODM kinataka kiti cha Naibu wa Rais, tuko tayari kuwapatia 2032 wakati Kithure Kindiki atakuwa Rais. Tutatafuta mmoja wao akuwe Naibu wa Rais lakini kwa sasa kiti cha Naibu Wa Rais sio vacant,” Ruku said.
Loosely translated as “To the ODM Party, we have accepted to be in the broad-based government, and we shall work in it with William Ruto to bring unity to Kenya and to make sure that the government works for the people. Kithure Kindiki is the deputy president of the Republic of Kenya for now and in the 2027 elections until 2032.
“If the ODM party is interested in the position, we shall give it after that, when Kithure Kindiki will be vying for the presidency. We shall pick one person from the ODM party to be the deputy president, but for now, the position is not vacant.”
ODM’s take on DP’s position
Speaking at the ODM National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting in Mombasa, Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) Party leader Oburu Odinga clarified the party’s position on the deputy president seat, saying ODM is actively targeting the position but holds no personal ill-will towards the current occupant, Kithure Kindiki.
Oburu also said that the deputy president’s seat is the position ODM is actively targeting.
“Kuna watu wali misinterpret ati mi nilisema hatutaki kiti ya deputy president, hiyo ndio kiti ambayo tunailenga sana. Kitu mimi nilisema ni ya kuwa huyo deputy president hatuna chuki na yeye kwa ubinafsi lakini hiyo kiti ya DP ni public,” Oburu said.