ODM deputy party leader Simba Arati has declared that the party will not back any 2027 election arrangement that leaves the Deputy President position in UDA's hands, saying ODM expects an equal share of leadership if the two parties continue working together. He said the Orange party is ready to field one of its own for the country's second-highest office should President William Ruto seek re-election on the UDA ticket.
Speaking at the ODM headquarters during a meeting with party delegations from Rift Valley, Turkana, Kilgoris and Nakuru, Arati said the party had already made its expectations clear as discussions over the future of the broad-based political cooperation continue.
According to Arati, any agreement between ODM and UDA must reflect what he described as a balanced partnership, with the presidency remaining with UDA and the Deputy President position going to ODM.
"We have told them it should be 50-50. If Ruto is the presidential candidate, then the Deputy President should come from our side. Let us agree on that," Arati said.
He said ODM has no shortage of leaders capable of serving as Deputy President, pointing to Mining, Blue Economy and Maritime Affairs Cabinet Secretary Hassan Joho, Cooperatives and MSMEs Cabinet Secretary Wycliffe Oparanya and party leader Oburu Odinga as possible candidates.
"Joho is here. I have heard Oparanya's name being mentioned. Even our party leader can stand for deputy president. We shall organise ourselves," he said.
Arati said the only circumstances under which ODM would abandon its claim to the Deputy President position would be if President Ruto or Deputy President Kithure Kindiki crossed over from UDA to ODM.
"Unless President Ruto decides not to be UDA's candidate and instead becomes ODM's candidate, then we can leave the Deputy President position. Or if Kindiki leaves UDA and joins ODM, then we can also leave him that seat. But as long as both of them remain in UDA, one of them will have to remain behind because we shall go with the other position," he said.
The Kisii Governor maintained that he was speaking in his official role as ODM deputy party leader and that his remarks reflected the party's position.
"You know I am speaking as the deputy party leader of ODM. That is how it is," he said.
The remarks come as leaders allied to the broad-based administration continue discussing what the political partnership between ODM and UDA could look like ahead of the next General Election.
The working relationship between the two parties followed political talks between President Ruto and former ODM leader Raila Odinga. Since then, a number of ODM members have been appointed to Cabinet and other government positions, although the party has repeatedly said it remains independent.
Earlier, ODM also reaffirmed its commitment to the broad-based administration while insisting that it would safeguard its identity.
In a statement released after meeting the regional delegations, the party said it was "standing firm" in defending ODM's identity while promoting social justice and equity through the broad-based administration.
The party added that it had officially started negotiations on collaborative policy frameworks with its partners but stressed that it "is distinct and cannot and will not be swallowed."
ODM also reaffirmed that Turkana remains one of its political strongholds and said it would continue pursuing development and equity through its role in the broad-based administration.