The DP seat is our main target - Oburu Odinga says in U-turn master move

This contrasts with a statement he made in Kisumu on  February 2, when he told DP Kithure Kindiki that ODM  is only interested in holding dialogue with President William Ruto's regime, saying that the talks will not seek to oust him, but to advance the party's agendas.

During a party meeting in Mombasa on Wednesday, Oburu said that he was misquoted and he only meant that the party harbours no bad blood with Kindiki, but the quest for the nation's DP role is not off the table.

"The Deputy President's seat is the one we are targeting the most. What I said was that we have no personal animosity towards the Deputy President, but his seat is a public seat," he said amid cheers.

Odinga has long held the same sentiments since last year, when he told NTV in November 2025 that the party will not return to opposition — and that the lowest seat it will bargain for in 2027 is the deputy presidency.

“If we have to go for a lower position, it must not be lower than number two (deputy president) in any formation. That is my take. We should not take less than that,” Dr Oginga declared in the interview.

Analysts, however, say that the statement could ignite debate over Kindiki's political future should the ODM party decide to stick with President Ruto.

Oburu further urged former President Uhuru Kenyatta to steer clear of ODM's political affairs. He further told him to also desist from making changes within the Azimio la Umoja-One Kenya coalition, which has posed as an opposition faction.

"I urge Uhuru Kenyatta to leave us alone and let us do what we please to do as ODM. He should not interfere with our party and people," he said.

"Azimio died when ODM left and joined the broad-based government with Ruto. We will do the formality of writing a letter to leave officially. Azimio should end and be buried forever."

The protest comes after the Azimio council, led by Uhuru, communicated leadership changes to the Registrar of Political Parties, submitting meeting notices, minutes, resolutions and statutory forms to formalise the new structure as the coalition prepares for the 2027 General Election.

The disputed changes saw Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka appointed as the new Azimio coalition leader, Suba North MP Caroli Omondi named Secretary General, and veteran politician Philip Kisia appointed Executive Director. 

Junet Mohamed, who previously served as Secretary General, and former Executive Director Raphael Tuju were removed.

ODM dismissed the changes as null and void for lacking the inclusion of all constituent Azimio parties. The party wanted the decision frozen and suspended, maintaining that ODM party leader Oburu was not consulted in the decision as required under the Azimio deed of agreement.