During a recent television interview with one of the local stations, ODM interim party leader Dr Oburu Odinga said his party would only enter into any political arrangement with President William Ruto’s UDA party if ODM were guaranteed the Deputy President’s slot. There are also reports that Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi has been eyeing the same position
By The Weekly Vision Reporter
Meru MPs have warned President William Ruto that replacing Deputy President Kithure Kindiki before the 2027 election could trigger political backlash in Mt. Kenya East and threaten his re-election.
During a recent television interview with one of the local stations, ODM interim party leader Dr Oburu Odinga said his party would only enter into any political arrangement with President William Ruto’s UDA party if ODM were guaranteed the Deputy President’s slot. There are also reports that Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi has been eyeing the same position.
Speaking during a grassroots leaders’ meeting at Ntugi in Buuri Sub-County, seven MPs declared their unwavering loyalty to President Ruto but warned him not to bow to political pressure to drop Kindiki from the ticket.
The lawmakers, Mugambi Rindikiri (Buuri), Mpuru Aburi (Tigania East), George Mutunga (Tigania West), Dan Kiili (Igembe Central), Julius Taitumu (Igembe North), Shadrack Mwiti (Imenti Central), nominated MP Dorothy Muthoni, and Meru Woman Representative Karambu Kailemia, dismissed mounting speculation that the ODM party was eyeing the deputy president’s position as part of a possible political realignment ahead of 2027.
“We want to tell our President that Mt. Kenya East is fully behind him, but our support stands because of Kindiki. For many years, our region has supported others for top seats. Now that we finally have one of our own, why should anyone start feeling greedy? The ODM brigade should forget about this seat because it is not vacant,” said Rindikiri.
The meeting, attended by more than 1,000 local leaders, called for unity across the region and warned that removing Kindiki from the seat would trigger a political backlash that could erode Ruto’s support base in Mt. Kenya East.
Tigania West MP George Mutunga cautioned that the region’s votes could not be taken for granted, insisting that Mt. Kenya East remains a decisive factor in national politics. “We cannot allow anyone to replace Kindiki. The President should not listen to empty noise driven by greed for power. We have enough votes to bargain with any political formation, and those eyeing the seat should know that Mt. Kenya East has the numbers and will defend its position,” he said.
The MPs said their support for President Ruto’s second-term bid was anchored on mutual respect and recognition of the region’s contribution to the Kenya Kwanza coalition. They vowed to campaign vigorously for a Ruto–Kindiki joint ticket in 2027 but warned that any deviation from that partnership would cost the ruling alliance dearly.
At the same time, the Meru legislators endorsed Kindiki as their preferred presidential candidate for the 2032 General Election, saying it was time for Mt. Kenya East to produce the next Head of State after President Ruto’s possible second term. “We will support Ruto for a second term, but come 2032, our focus will be on Kindiki for the presidency. Since independence, this vote-rich region has never clinched the top seat. It is time for other communities to support us as we supported them,” said Muthoni.
Tigania East MP Mpuru Aburi dismissed the opposition’s claims to the deputy president’s seat, saying it “belongs to Mt. Kenya East and we are ready to defend it come rain, come sunshine.”
Despite their stern warning, the leaders commended the Ruto administration for what they termed as tangible development achievements across the region, citing improvements in infrastructure, agriculture, healthcare, and education.
They urged residents to register as voters in large numbers to strengthen the region’s bargaining power ahead of the next general election. “Let us register and vote in huge numbers. Our strength lies in our unity and our votes,” said Rindikiri.
Political observers say the warning from Meru MPs signals growing unease within the Kenya Kwanza coalition, as regional leaders seek to safeguard their influence and secure Kindiki’s future within the alliance ahead of 2027 and beyond.
