Public Service Cabinet Secretary Geoffrey Ruku, Embu Governor Cecily Mbarire and a section of MPs from the Mt. Kenya East region dismissed what they termed persistent and provocative claims by ODM party leader Dr. Oburu Oginga over the deputy president’s position.

Ruku said President William Ruto and Kindiki were working well and focused on development.

“Mheshimiwa Oburu unatukera, kwa nini urudie tena na tena ya kwamba unataka kiti cha DP, the Deputy President’s office is not vacant, DP Kithure Kindiki ako na wafuasi wa kutosha,”  said Ruku

In addition, the Public Service CS emphasized that even within the broad-based government, parties must work with mutual respect.

“Even if we are in the broad-based government, we must work with respect and desist from annoying each other unnecessarily,” he said.

Kindiki, on his part, called on the political class to tone down what he described as fierce political heat being generated by the ongoing debate, saying the country should not be dragged into early political contests.

“I want to ask all of us, especially the political class, to tone down the fierce political heat that is being generated by the ongoing debate. There is no need to worry,” Kindiki said.

The Deputy President also projected confidence in his political standing, saying he would engage the debate at the right time.

“We are the masters of this political game. At the right time, I will play our cards properly. I have no record of losing any political contest,” he said.

At the same time, Kindiki appealed to voters in areas headed to by-elections on February 26, 2026 to back UDA candidates.

The remarks emerged after the ODM party leader, Oburu Oginga, while speaking in recent rallies maintained that the ODM party should get the DP position in the ongoing negotiations with UDA as part of preparations for the 2027 elections.