Public Service Cabinet Secretary Geoffrey Ruku has issued a stern warning to Siaya Senator Oburu Oginga, dismissing calls for a change in the leadership of the Deputy President’s office.
Speaking at the Full Gospel Church of Kenya, Kanthoki in Evurore Ward, Mbeere North Constituency, Ruku defended the working relationship between William Ruto and Deputy President Kithure Kindiki.
He slammed Oburu saying that the Siaya Senator was “becoming vexatious” and accused him of repeatedly making demands for the Deputy President’s position, ignoring the current officeholder’s role.
“Oburu, you are now becoming vexatious. You are getting into our nerves. By continuously making demands for the Deputy President's position as if it is vacant and disregarding our son Prof Kithure Kindiki, you are annoying us. You are becoming a nuisance. Don't annoy us again and we are very serious about this. If you want, look for other seats, but the President's and Deputy President's are fully occupied and not open for negotiations,” Ruku said.
The Cabinet Secretary emphasised that the current leadership is fully functional and focused on national development.
“President William Ruto and his Deputy President Kithure Kindiki are working well and focused on the development of our Country. If it’s working, don't fix it. We don't know why Oburu and his team are demanding a change of what is working. We are telling him that we will protect our son by all means,” Ruku added.
He also called for respect and decorum within the broad-based government, highlighting the importance of unity among coalition members.
“Even if we are in the broad-based government, we must work with respect and desist from annoying each other unnecessarily,” he said.
Ruku’s remarks are in response to recent remarks by the Orange Democratic Movement faction of the broadbased government that has been demanding the second-in-command position even as they begin negotiations ahead of the 2027 general elections.
While Oburu had dismissed interest in the seat at a rally attended by Kindiki, he was forced to change his stance following an ODM National Executive Committee meeting held in Mombasa.
“For the Deputy President, we do not want your seat. You are our friend,” Oburu said on February 2, 2026.
He, however, said that he was misquoted and that the party wants the position.
“There is something that people misinterpret. They said that I mentioned that ODM is not eyeing the deputy president seat. That seat is the one we are eyeing the most,” Oburu said.
“I said that we don’t have a problem with the deputy president on a personal level. But the deputy president’s position is a public seat during an election.”
On his part, Kindiki has reiterated that he remains the DP and the seat is going nowhere.
Several leaders from the Mt Kenya region have also insisted that the seat is not vacant, at least not until after the 2032 General Elections.
