Raila Odinga-led ODM Party is demanding more stakes in President William Ruto’s administration, the Star has established, days after the dramatic ouster of Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua.
ODM insiders are asking for more senior appointments in government, including another Cabinet job, for what they see as their role in helping President Ruto stabilise the country.
The Orange party also wants to be rewarded for its role in enabling the impeachment of Gachagua — a gruelling assignment — that would have fallen flat without ODM’s backing.
Ruto’s incorporation of Raila’s allies into his Cabinet neutralised the Gen Z protests and helped the President stabilise his administration at a time when the country was tittering on the brink.
Political analyst Daniel Orogo says the new push by ODM is not only deserved but was expected.
“The question as to whether the ODM party was going to ask for a favour in return was not a question of if, but a question of what would they ask in return and when would they present or push for rewards,” Orogo told the Star.
Ruto had already rewarded ODM bigwigs with Cabinet appointments. Hassan Joho (Mining), Wycliff e Oparanya (Cooperatives), John Mbadi (Treasury), Beatrice Askul (EAC) and Opiyo Wandayi are among those who were rewarded.
Ruto is also going fl at out to ensure Raila gets the African Union Commission chair job. Cabinet changes are in the offing following the nomination of Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki as Deputy President.
This means Kindiki’s job as Interior and National Administration CS — one of the most lucrative posts in government — is set to be vacant.
Ruto is also set to spearhead a radical reshuffle of principal secretaries to reflect what insiders describe as “the new political realities”.
Gachagua who is facing expulsion from within the ruling UDA party, had nominated several PSs, especially from his Mt Kenya backyard.
Many of these individuals are on the chopping board.
Last week, the government sent packing tens of top officers in Gachagua’s office as part of the grand house cleaning.
The appointment of more Raila allies in government signals the growing reality of a 2027 coalition with Ruto and Raila on one side.
Sources said the recent political realignments have triggered intense lobbying for the jobs with individuals both within Kenya Kwanza and ODM asking to be considered.
The jostling has only been slowed down by the court injunction obtained by Gachagua that has effectively blocked the swearing-in of Kindiki. Minority leader Junet Mohamed, Environment CS Aden Duale and Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi are among the names being touted as possible picks to replace Kindiki.
Initially, Majority leader Kimani Ichung’wah was seen as a front-runner, but the Kikuyu MP has declined any such officer.
“I do not need the job of a minis-ter, I have a job that I was given by Kikuyu constituents and these MPs also gave me a task in the National Assembly. I want to continue with this job so that we can bring development in Rabai and other parts of the country,” Ichung’wah said on Monday.
The Ichung’wah decision is also said to have been informed by think tanks who believe an electoral contest in Mt Kenya at the moment would be disastrous for UDA.
Ichungwah’s nomination to Cabinet would occasion a by-election.
Junet, one of Raila’s closest allies, had however declared that he would not hesitate to take any such job offer.
“It is just that I was left out when my colleagues were being selected. If I was on the list, I’d have simply consulted my wife and joined,” Junet said during Oparanya’s homecoming in August.
Several scenarios are being considered, according to sources aware of the intrigues.
They intimate that Raila men are pushing hard and are exploring two avenues.
The Raila side had reportedly put a case for the Interior job or that of the Speaker of the National Assembly.
If the National Assembly job was given to ODM, Speaker Moses Wetang’ula would be appointed Foreign Affairs CS and Mudavadi allowed to double as Prime CS and CS for Interior. Wetang’ula served as Minister for Foreign Affairs during the Grand Coalition government.
ODM was looking at Rarieda MP Otiende Amollo as possible Wetang’ula replacement.
However, Ruto is said to be reluctant with the Wetang’ula move citing the agreement with Ford Kenya.
The is means Raila could be allowed to take over the Foreign Affairs docket.