ODM leaders in Western Kenya have renewed their push for Cooperatives Cabinet Secretary Wycliffe Oparanya to be President William Ruto's running mate in 2027. The demand could complicate Deputy President Kithure Kindiki's hopes of keeping his job.

The push was led by Ikolomani MP Bernard Shinali at a grassroots mobilisation meeting in Ikolomani, Kakamega County, The Standard reported on Tuesday.

'ODM should get the deputy presidency'

Shinali chairs the Kakamega MPs Caucus. He said ODM should be given the deputy presidency if it formally enters an electoral pact with Ruto's UDA. He argued that Oparanya's record qualifies him: two terms as an MP, two terms as Kakamega governor and his current Cabinet post. He said Oparanya could work with the President for a full five-year term.

Kakamega Woman Representative Elsie Muhanda backed the broad-based arrangement, pointing to lower fertiliser prices and development projects. She said ODM supporters in the region would stay with the party and back the deal.

Oparanya was at the meeting. He confirmed that ODM and UDA are in talks and said party leaders have agreed to work with UDA. He said final positions would be agreed in negotiations. He described the competition within ODM since Raila Odinga's death as a normal family disagreement.

Talks and a rival camp

The Standard reported that a 10-member committee, with five nominees from each party, is planned to negotiate the arrangement. Sources told the paper that Ruto asked Oparanya to build support for his re-election in Kakamega, which has 12 constituencies and 60 wards.

Kindiki's allies are working to keep him on the ticket. Sirisia MP John Walukhe, who chairs the Western MPs Caucus and has backed Oparanya, has claimed that Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi supports Kindiki staying on.

An old demand, a new push

The idea is not new. In March 2025, Western MPs including Shinali and Muhanda backed Oparanya for the deputy presidency in a "Khwisero Declaration", KBC reported at the time. ODM leaders, among them Junet Mohamed, later endorsed him at a rally in Malava. People Daily has reported ODM's insistence on a 50-50 power-sharing deal with UDA.

ODM leader Oburu Oginga has said the party will not back the government blindly and wants a meaningful share of power. The renewed push also comes as Oparanya's camp tries to counter Senator Edwin Sifuna's Linda Mwananchi movement, which is gaining ground in Western Kenya.

Neither Ruto nor UDA has said who will be his running mate.

Photos: Government of Kenya official portraits via Wikimedia Commons (public domain). Thumbnail design: HAMASTA MEDIA.