The Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) party leader Oburu Odinga has said the party is not going after the Deputy President’s seat amid ongoing dialogue with President Ruto’s UDA.
Speaking during a National Youth Opportunities Towards Advancement (NYOTA) business support programme in Kisumu on Monday, February 2, 2026, Oburu told Deputy President Kithure Kindiki, that the talks will not seek to oust him, but to advance ODM’s agenda.
“Mr. Deputy President, do not think we want your seat and chase you. You are our friend, but as we negotiate, we will do so according to what our people and party deserve,” he said.
“We are going to talk to UDA and make sure we have more than we have now,” he added.
Oburu, who is also the Siaya Senator, added that ODM will seek fair negotiations with the President William Ruto-led UDA party, and will ensure everyone secures their rightful share of the national cake.
“Our party is not a Luo party; it is a party for the whole of Kenya, and therefore, we are going to negotiate fairly. We do not want tribal parties, and we will not take anybody’s share. We are only going to make sure that everybody gets a fair share of the national cake,” he said.
In what appears to ease pressure on President Ruto to retain Kindiki to bolster political vetting in Mt.Kenya region, the ODM leader’s latest utterances appear to change his stance from the earlier one.
For instance, on November 3, 2025, Oburu said that in case the ODM party entered into any negotiation talks, they would not go for any position lower than the DP position.
This now assures that Kindiki’s position is safe ahead of the 2027 polls and that the ODM party will now push for other positions in Ruto’s government.
However, the critics of the broad-based government within the ODM party, including a good number of younger leaders, oppose this direction and want ODM to reassert an independent opposition identity.
ODM chairperson Gladys Wanga said that they expect a fair sharing of resources after discussions between the two parties ahead of the 2027 General Election.
Meanwhile, President Ruto has declared that he is targeting a decisive victory in the 2027 polls, through a possible coalition with ODM.
