{
  "id": 3443633,
  "title": "ODM refuses to back down on demand for Deputy President slot",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/26/odm-refuses-to-back-down-on-demand-for-deputy-president-slot",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-08-26T05:59:47.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "KahawaTungu",
    "slug": "kahawatungu",
    "url": "https://kahawatungu.com/odm-refuses-to-back-down-on-demand-for-deputy-president-slot/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) remains steadfast in its demand for the Deputy President's position within the emerging political partnership with President William Ruto's Kenya Kwanza administration. ODM Deputy Party Chair and Kisii Governor Simba Arati has stated that the party will not relinquish its claim to the position, emphasizing that discussions on power sharing should concentrate on institutions rather than individuals. Arati reassured Deputy President Kithure Kindiki that the party's stance is not directed towards him personally, cautioning that he should not be concerned by the party's position. The Governor made these remarks during a visit to Kisii National Polytechnic, where First Lady Rachel Ruto was also present, engaging with various women's groups. Arati clarified that the ODM is not targeting Kindiki as a person, but rather focusing on the office of the Deputy President and its role in the broader framework of power sharing. He stressed that any negotiations on the political partnership should result in a clear power-sharing framework, with ODM seeking a significant role in the government if the current arrangement evolves into a formal political coalition. The ODM's stance is expected to heighten competition within the broad-based government as parties prepare for the 2027 General Elections. The Deputy President's position has become a potentially contentious issue in the negotiations, as President Ruto's allies strive to strengthen the Kenya Kwanza coalition, while ODM seeks a more prominent role in the administration. At the same gathering, First Lady Rachel Ruto urged the Gusii community to support President Ruto's re-election, urging them to evaluate the government's performance based on its initiatives and programs rather than political rhetoric. She highlighted investments in education, healthcare, agriculture, and economic empowerment as key areas of focus for the administration. As the Gusii region assumes greater importance in political calculations ahead of the 2027 elections, the ODM's open demand for the Deputy President's position could serve as a critical assessment of the broad-based government's resilience and political trajectory.",
  "summary": "The Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) has dug in on its demand for the Deputy President’s position in the emerging political partnership with President William Ruto’s Kenya Kwanza administration. ODM Deputy Party Chair and Kisii Governor Simba Arati said the party would not surrender its claim to the position, insisting that discussions on the sharing of [...] The post ODM refuses to back down on…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}