ODM has publicly laid claim to the Deputy President's post as its price for backing President William Ruto in 2027, with the party's deputy leaders using Saturday's rally at Nairobi's Jacaranda Grounds to spell out conditions for any formal deal with the United Democratic Alliance (UDA).

The demands were made at the closing event of Mwezi wa Baba, held to mark one year since the death of former Prime Minister Raila Odinga, before the rally was cut short by chaos.

Nassir: DP must be ODM's

Mombasa Governor Abdulswamad Nassir, one of the party's deputy leaders, told the crowd the second-highest office in the land must go to the Orange party. "Furthermore, we are declaring that the Deputy President of the Republic of Kenya will come from ODM," he said, according to Capital FM.

The Standard reported that Nassir then asked the gathering whether ODM lacked leaders fit to deputise the President, drawing loud chants of the name of Mining Cabinet Secretary Hassan Joho. Nassir added that ODM would field candidates for every elective seat, from MCA to governor.

The claim sets up a potential clash with Deputy President Kithure Kindiki and Mt Kenya leaders allied to Ruto, who are expected to fight to keep the position.

Arati: no deal without terms

Kisii Governor Simba Arati insisted ODM would not enter a pact with UDA without a written agreement. "As the ODM party cooperating with UDA, we must establish the conditions that will enable us to enter into government," he said.

He dismissed claims that the party had been weakened by defections, saying ODM was "full to the point that we have locked it with a padlock." Arati also said ODM would go for the Nairobi governor and Woman Representative seats in 2027.

Party chairperson Gladys Wanga said the party remained committed to the broad-based arrangement but wanted to dominate Nairobi, declaring that "every seat will be ODM." Wanga, Arati and Minority Leader Junet Mohamed also told DCP leader Rigathi Gachagua to stop attacking the party, while Treasury CS John Mbadi said the turnout showed ODM was still strong in the capital.

Oburu: we know what we are doing

Speaking by live link as he recovers from illness, party leader Oburu Oginga struck a more cautious tone. He said ODM's entry into the broad-based government was a deliberate decision. "We are there consciously, and we are there knowing what we are doing," he said, according to The Star.

Oburu argued that a broad-based government is different from a coalition government. He disclosed that ODM had named a five-member technical team working on constitutional and policy issues, and said a separate coalition team appointed jointly by his side and President Ruto's would be in place before February 2027.

He warned members against publicly contradicting party positions while talks are ongoing. "We want discipline in our party," he said.

The competing messages from the same stage underline the balancing act facing Oburu as some officials push for firm, written guarantees from Ruto before the party commits its support.

Photos: Capital FM; The Standard. Thumbnail design: HAMASTA MEDIA.