Scramble for DP post creates tension in political camps

The push by a section of ODM leaders to front Co-operatives and MSMEs Development Cabinet Secretary Wycliffe Oparanya for the Deputy President's position has opened fresh political fault lines within President William Ruto's broad-based government, while also exposing competing interests within Western Kenya and the opposition ahead of the 2027 General Election.

What appeared to be an attempt by ODM leaders to stake an early claim to the country's second-highest office has instead triggered resistance from multiple fronts.

Allies of Deputy President Kithure Kindiki have dismissed the proposal; Western Kenya leaders are split over whether Oparanya should represent the region, while another section of ODM now argues the seat should belong to the party rather than any individual.

That possibility has, however, drawn swift resistance from within government.

Public Service Cabinet Secretary Geoffrey Ruku recently dismissed discussions linking Oparanya to the Deputy President's office, insisting the position was occupied and cautioning against premature succession politics.

"The office of the Deputy President is occupied. It is wrong for leaders to continue discussing it as though it were vacant," Ruku said, adding that while political parties were free to negotiate political arrangements, they should not create the impression that the Deputy President's office was available for bargaining.

His remarks echoed sentiments expressed by allies of Deputy President Kithure Kindiki, who have interpreted the growing discussion around Oparanya as an attempt to undermine the incumbent and trigger an unnecessary succession contest within the broad-based administration.

The pushback has highlighted one of the biggest contradictions facing the broad-based alliance.

While President Ruto and ODM leader continue to project unity through their working arrangement, discussions over how power would be shared beyond 2027 are increasingly exposing competing interests beneath the coalition's public messaging.

Ironically, Oparanya's ambitions have also encountered resistance from leaders in his own backyard.

In Western Kenya, where many leaders believe the region deserves greater representation in the country's top leadership, there is little agreement on who should carry that political mantle.

Kakamega Governor Fernandes Barasa has distanced himself from attempts to project Oparanya as Western Kenya's preferred candidate for the Deputy President's seat, arguing that the region should first build consensus before individual leaders begin positioning themselves for national office.

"The biggest enemy of the Luhya people is Wycliffe Oparanya. He should first focus on uniting Kakamega before seeking a national seat," Barasa said.

The governor accused Oparanya of leaving behind numerous stalled development projects during his tenure as Kakamega governor, arguing that he had not earned the political goodwill required to seek the country's second-highest office.

"Oparanya was governor here and left many stalled projects. The seat he is eyeing will never materialise. If he wants to become Deputy President, let him first come back and unite Kakamega," Barasa said.

Barasa's remarks have deepened the perception that Western Kenya is far from united behind Oparanya, with influential leaders taking conflicting positions on who should champion the region's political interests during coalition negotiations ahead of the next General Election.

Kakamega Deputy Governor Ayub Savula has also criticised efforts to portray Oparanya as the region's political spokesman, maintaining that no single leader has been mandated to negotiate on behalf of Western Kenya.

UDA National Vice Chairperson Elsie Muhanda has equally rejected attempts to elevate Oparanya as the region's undisputed political kingpin, arguing that Western Kenya's political future should not revolve around one individual but around strengthening the region's collective bargaining power.

The differing positions have exposed growing divisions within Western Kenya at a time when many believe the region's sizeable voting bloc could significantly influence coalition negotiations ahead of the next General Election.

Yet another school of thought has emerged from Bungoma Governor Kenneth Lusaka, one of President Ruto's chief campaigners for a second term in Western Kenya.

Rather than demand the Deputy President's position, Lusaka has urged leaders from the region to unite behind President Ruto's re-election bid, arguing that political capital would be better spent consolidating the President's support in Western Kenya.

Speaking at a public rally, Lusaka told leaders to stop insisting that the Deputy President must come from Western Kenya, saying the region's immediate agenda should be to secure President Ruto's victory in 2027.

He argued that Western Kenya had already produced three Deputy Presidents, Michael Wamalwa Kijana, Moody Awori and Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi and should instead begin positioning itself to negotiate for the presidency in 2032.

Lusaka's position presents a striking contrast to leaders seeking to leverage the broad-based arrangement to secure the country's second-highest office in the next election, illustrating that even within President Ruto's support base there is no common strategy on how Western Kenya should pursue national power.

Even ODM appears divided on how the Deputy President's position should be approached.

Siaya Senator Oburu Oginga recently argued that should the broad-based partnership continue beyond 2027, the Deputy President's seat ought to be reserved for ODM, effectively framing the office as the party's entitlement rather than the preserve of any particular region.

His remarks have introduced another layer of complexity to the succession debate, raising questions about whether coalition negotiations would be driven by party strength or regional considerations.

The same dilemma is likely to confront the opposition, whose leaders continue to champion unity while avoiding difficult conversations about how executive positions would be shared should they agree on a joint presidential ticket.

Political analysts argue that unlike previous election cycles, where the presidency dominated political negotiations, the Deputy President's office has evolved into one of Kenya's most strategic bargaining chips, symbolising regional inclusion, executive influence and succession planning.

For both the broad-based government and the opposition, the growing contest suggests that the battle for the country's second-highest office may become the first real test of coalition cohesion ahead of 2027.

How political leaders manage those competing ambitions could determine not only the stability of existing alliances but also the shape of the coalitions that eventually face voters at the ballot.