The Orange Democratic Movement has formally named Cooperatives Cabinet Secretary Wycliffe Oparanya as its preferred candidate for the deputy president position on a joint 2027 ticket with President William Ruto, marking a significant shift in the ongoing coalition negotiations between the two parties.
The declaration was made at a rally in Malava, Kakamega County, where senior ODM figures laid out what they described as a settled formula for the next general election.
National Assembly Minority Leader Junet Mohamed was among the first to state the arrangement explicitly, telling the crowd that ODM would present a candidate for the deputy presidency to run alongside Ruto, with UDA producing the president and ODM producing the DP.
Led by ODM Acting Secretary General Catherine Omanyo, party leaders maintained that their support for Ruto’s re-election bid hinges on securing the deputy president’s position in negotiations with UDA.
Khwisero MP Aseka Miradi echoed the sentiment, insisting Oparanya was the only qualified candidate for the role.
According to the leaders, Oparanya is best placed to consolidate Western Kenya’s support for Ruto, citing his long-standing alliance with the late Raila Odinga and his influence in the region.
The push comes despite Deputy President Kithure Kindiki publicly defending his position as non-negotiable, insisting Mt Kenya’s political investment in his candidacy should not be abandoned.
Days after ODM fronted Oparanya, Ruto met him at State House, a development that drew close attention given the politically charged context surrounding the two leaders.
The meeting has fueled further speculation about whether Ruto is warming to the idea of dropping Kindiki ahead of 2027.
The push has also intersected with growing competition from Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna’s Linda Mwananchi movement, which has been gaining ground in Western Kenya, complicating ODM’s efforts to present a unified regional front behind Oparanya’s candidacy.