Public Service Cabinet Secretary Geoffrey Ruku has torn into ODM leader Oburu Odinga, accusing him of political dishonesty over claims that the opposition party is not eyeing the Deputy President’s seat in ongoing coalition talks.

The fragile peace holding together the broad-based government arrangement has developed a fresh hairline fracture. In a scathing attack that exposes the simmering tensions beneath the surface of the ODM-UDA cooperation, CS Ruku has called out Oburu Odinga for what he terms "calculated double speak." The controversy centers on the coveted position of the Deputy President, currently held by Kithure Kindiki, and whether it is on the table in the high-stakes poker game of coalition building.

The Politics of Deceit

Ruku’s outburst was triggered by Oburu’s recent assertions that the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) has no interest in displacing Kindiki. Ruku, however, is not buying it. "You cannot run with the hare and hunt with the hounds," Ruku stated, his voice laced with the frustration of a man watching a slow-motion car crash. He argues that Oburu’s public assurances are merely a smokescreen designed to lull the Mount Kenya region into a false sense of security while the opposition maneuvers for the ultimate prize.

The Public Service CS insists that the very nature of the current political realignment implies a scramble for top seats. By denying interest in the DP position, Ruku claims Oburu is engaging in "old-school political conmanship" that insults the intelligence of the electorate. "If you are in government, you are in government for power. To say you are negotiating for a coalition but don’t want the number two slot is a lie that even a child wouldn’t believe," Ruku charged.

• The Kindiki Factor: Deputy President Kithure Kindiki finds himself in the crosshairs of this battle. As the senior-most figure from the Mountain in the executive, his removal would be a declaration of war on a critical voting bloc.
• The Handshake History: Ruku reminded Kenyans of previous "handshakes" that ended with the junior partner cannibalizing the ruling party, a fate he warns UDA is sleepwalking into.

A Coalition of Convenience?

This war of words highlights the structural weakness of the current political arrangement. The "broad-based" government, hailed as a unity ticket, is increasingly looking like a shotgun marriage. Oburu, speaking as the de facto voice of the Odinga dynasty, is trying to walk a tightrope: satisfying the hunger of his party’s base for power while avoiding a premature confrontation with the UDA hardliners.

But Ruku is having none of it. He sees the strategic ambiguity employed by ODM as a direct threat to the stability of the administration. "We need clarity," he demanded. "Are you partners effectively working to support the President, or are you Trojan horses waiting to open the gates?" The question hangs heavy over Nairobi, and the silence from the highest office is deafening.

As the political temperature rises, the ordinary Kenyan is left wondering if governance has taken a backseat to power games. With the 2027 elections already casting a long shadow, every statement is a campaign speech, and every denial is a confirmation. For Ruku, the gloves are off, and the message is clear: the battle for the soul of the coalition has begun.