Arati: ODM Will Not Give Up Deputy President Position to UDA

ODM deputy party leader Simba Arati has said his party will only support a joint 2027 presidential ticket with UDA if it is given the deputy president position, unless President William Ruto or Deputy President Kithure Kindiki joins ODM.

Speaking at the party's Nairobi headquarters during a meeting with delegations from Rift Valley, Turkana, Kilgoris and Nakuru, Arati said any electoral agreement between ODM and the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) must be based on equal power-sharing. He said that if UDA retains the presidential candidate, ODM should provide the running mate.

"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," he said.

Arati said ODM has several leaders who are capable of serving as deputy president. He named Cabinet Secretaries Hassan Joho and Wycliffe Oparanya, as well as veteran 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.

The Kisii Governor said ODM would only withdraw its claim to the deputy presidency if either Ruto or Kindiki joined the party.

"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.

His remarks come as debate continues over the future of the broad-based political arrangement between Ruto and former Prime Minister Raila Odinga. The partnership has led to the appointment of several ODM figures to Cabinet and other senior government positions, while the party has continued to operate independently.

During the meeting, ODM said it remained committed to working with the administration but would protect its political identity. In a statement, the party said it was "standing firm" in safeguarding its distinct character while promoting social justice and equity within government.

The party also reaffirmed Turkana as one of its strongholds and said it would continue to support development and fairness through its role in the coalition.