Public Service Cabinet Secretary Geoffrey Ruku has stated that voters in the Mount Kenya region, specifically Mt Kenya East, will back President William Ruto’s 2027 re-election campaign, regardless of whether he keeps Deputy President Kithure Kindiki on the ticket.
During an interview on NTV on Monday, July 27, Ruku insisted that the region plans to rally behind the president’s candidature. He noted that selecting a running mate remains solely the president’s prerogative, urging Kenya Kwanza supporters to back Ruto’s ultimate choice.
Ruku Backs Kindiki to Stay on Ticket
While Ruku accepts that the decision rests with the Head of State, he personally supports keeping Kindiki in office. He pointed to Kindiki’s performance as President Ruto’s principal assistant, arguing that the Deputy President has executed his duties exceptionally well.
“I support Kindiki to continue being the DP because he has performed very well as Ruto’s principal assistant. He has outperformed himself as DP, and I think he is suited to be the DP from 2027 to 2032,” Ruku stated.
“If he is not picked, we will continue supporting President Ruto. It is the prerogative of the head of state to choose his running mate. It is his prerogative to choose his running mate,” he added.
ODM’s Rival Push for Oparanya
These remarks came after the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) endorsed Cooperatives CS Wycliffe Oparanya for the running mate position in 2027. ODM argued that the Deputy President slot should belong to their party, reasoning that the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) already holds the presidential nomination through Ruto, whom all coalition partners support.
ODM leaders, led by Acting Secretary General Catherine Omanyo, made clear that their support for President Ruto’s re-election hinges on securing the Deputy President slot in coalition talks with UDA. During a rally in Malava, Suna East MP Junet Mohamed reinforced this stance, stating that UDA should field the presidential candidate while ODM provides the deputy in the form of Wycliffe Oparanya.
“UDA should produce the president, while ODM will produce the DP, and we will present Wycliffe Oparanya,” Junet Mohamed said
Ruku brushed off the ambition coming from the ODM camp, framing it as standard democratic practice for politicians to pursue any office they choose. However, he explicitly rejected Oparanya’s candidacy, arguing that Kindiki has delivered on his mandate and deserves to remain on the ticket.
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