Molo MP Kimani Kuria has vehemently warned the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) to cease their pursuit of the Deputy President's post, insisting the position is firmly held by Kithure Kindiki and is not open for political negotiation within the broad-based government arrangement.

In a politically charged atmosphere at St. Joseph’s Comprehensive School in Molo, a distinct line was drawn in the shifting sands of Kenyan politics. UDA MP Kimani Kuria took to the podium with a clear, unyielding message directed at their new political bedfellows: the Deputy President's seat is off-limits.

This bold declaration comes amid growing speculation and subtle overtures from ODM stalwarts, notably Siaya Senator Oburu Odinga, hinting at an interest in the second-in-command position as a dividend of the new broad-based government structure. Kuria's stance highlights the fragile and transactional nature of this unprecedented political pact.

The Boundaries of Cooperation

The genesis of this friction lies in the recent reconfiguration of President William Ruto's administration, which saw the incorporation of key opposition figures into the Cabinet. This "broad-based" approach, intended to quell nationwide unrest, has predictably birthed new internal power struggles. For the UDA base, particularly those allied to Deputy President Kithure Kindiki, there is a palpable anxiety about ceding too much ground to their erstwhile rivals.

Kuria’s remarks, made in the presence of Energy and Petroleum Cabinet Secretary Opiyo Wandayi—a senior ODM figure—were pointed. He explicitly tasked Wandayi with relaying the message to the ODM camp: be content with the Cabinet slots (CS posts) already allocated, and do not overreach for the DP’s office.

• Key Figure: Kimani Kuria, Molo MP (UDA)
• Target: Oburu Odinga and the ODM leadership faction
• Core Issue: Contestation over the Deputy President's position
• Current DP: Kithure Kindiki

The Nyanza Equation and the Broad-Based Agenda

The political calculus is complex. While Kithure Kindiki has recently indicated that the Nyanza region is ready to fully support the government's broad-based agenda, the local dynamics suggest a delicate balancing act. Integrating opposition heavyweights into the executive was a masterstroke for short-term stability, but it creates a congested political runway for the 2027 general elections.

The UDA hardliners are drawing a line in the sand. They view the DP position not just as an office, but as a hard-won prize from the 2022 elections that must not be diluted or bartered away in the name of national unity. The message is clear: cooperation has limits, and the hierarchy of the executive must remain intact.

Development Amidst Politics

Interestingly, this political posturing occurred against the backdrop of local development initiatives. The commissioning of solar-powered boreholes and the handing over of classrooms by the Kenya Pipeline Company Foundation served as the stage.

This juxtaposition of grassroots development and high-stakes national politics is a classic feature of the Kenyan political landscape. Leaders utilize these local platforms to send national messages, ensuring their constituents see them as both providers of tangible benefits and fierce defenders of their political interests.

"We have welcomed them into the government, we have given them CS positions, but the seat of the Deputy President is occupied by Kithure Kindiki," Kuria asserted, encapsulating the sentiment of many within the UDA rank and file.