Mt Kenya vs ODM: The Tug of War Over Ruto’s Running Mate

The question of who will be President William Ruto’s running mate in 2027 is gaining momentum, with the Orange Democratic Party (ODM) intensifying its push for the position even as Mount Kenya succession politics take centre stage.

An appeal for continued support, which cited the backing residents from the eastern side of the mountain have extended to their counterparts over the years, comes at a time when political leadership and succession in the Mount Kenya region are increasingly featuring in discussions ahead of the General Election.

ODM leaders, who are in a broad-based government arrangement with Ruto, have been pushing for the deputy president’s position to be handed over to one of their own.

The party has renewed its push for the slot ahead of the election, with a section of its leaders demanding the post as part of its political pact with the United Democratic Alliance (UDA).

Junet Mohammed, the MP for Suna East Constituency in Migori County, is among the leaders pressing for ODM to take the position.

Most party cadres have endorsed Cooperatives Cabinet Secretary Wycliffe Oparanya as Ruto’s running mate in 2027.

Those backing the demand argue that ODM and UDA should have equal shares in government, a position that sets the stage for tough negotiations between the two parties as the election nears.

The competing claims highlight the delicate balance Ruto must strike. Mount Kenya leaders want a say in the region’s political future, while his broad-based partners in ODM want a bigger stake in the arrangement they helped build.

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