Gladys Wanga Signals ODM’s Position on Deputy President Slot in Possible Ruto Alliance
Homa Bay Governor Gladys Wanga has openly indicated that the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) may push for Mombasa Governor Hassan Joho to be considered for the Deputy President position in a potential political alliance with President William Ruto and his United Democratic Alliance (UDA) ahead of the 2027 General Election.
Speaking during an ODM Youth Convention held in Kilifi on Sunday, April 26, Wanga made it clear that ODM would not enter into any coalition discussions from a weak position.
Instead, she stressed that the party expects to negotiate as an equal partner, especially considering its strong support base in several regions across the country.
According to Wanga, any agreement between ODM and UDA must be based on fairness and balance. She explained that if such talks lead to a formal coalition, both parties would have to share power equally.
In her remarks, she emphasized that if UDA produces the presidential candidate, ODM would demand the deputy president slot as part of a 50-50 power-sharing arrangement.
She went further to hint strongly at Joho as the party’s preferred candidate for that position, stating that he has the leadership qualities and political strength needed to serve as deputy president.
Her statement adds more weight to Joho’s name, which has already been mentioned several times in political discussions around the 2027 succession race.
At the same time, there has been ongoing speculation within ODM about who would ultimately be fronted for the role, with Wanga herself also rumored to have interest in the position. However, her latest remarks appear to place Joho at the center of the party’s early thinking.
Wanga’s comments come shortly after the formation of a Broad-Based Management Committee involving both ODM and UDA.
This committee was created following a high-level meeting held at State House, Nairobi, on April 23. The meeting brought together President Ruto and ODM leader Oburu Odinga, signaling a growing working relationship between the two political sides.
The newly formed committee includes selected Cabinet Secretaries as well as key parliamentary leaders from both parties.
Its main role is to improve coordination between the executive and legislative arms of government, align policy priorities, and manage any political tensions that may arise as the cooperation continues.
One of the major issues expected to be handled by the committee is electoral zoning. This involves discussions on whether the two parties can agree not to compete against each other in certain regions during elections.
Such an arrangement is aimed at reducing internal rivalry and strengthening their chances in the 2027 General Election.
During the Kilifi event, Wanga also took time to criticise leaders in the opposition, especially former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua. She accused him of repeatedly mentioning the late former Prime Minister Raila Odinga in his political statements.
Wanga strongly defended Raila’s legacy, saying that Gachagua had no meaningful political association with him when he was alive. She urged him to stop bringing up Raila’s name in public discussions, arguing that it shows a lack of respect.
In addition, Wanga dismissed recent opposition political tours in the Coast region, claiming that they have not gained any real support from the local population. She maintained that ODM remains firmly rooted in the region and continues to enjoy strong backing.
The governor also made it clear that ODM is cautious about the kind of alliances it forms moving forward. She warned that the party would not work with leaders who promote tribal politics or are linked to issues such as land grabbing.
According to her, such individuals do not represent the values of the Coast region and should not expect political support there.
Overall, Wanga’s remarks highlight ODM’s growing confidence as it prepares for future political negotiations.
Her statements also suggest that early positioning and internal discussions within the party are already shaping the direction it may take as the country slowly moves toward the 2027 elections.
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