Homa Bay Governor Gladys Wanga has indicated that the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) may propose Mombasa Governor Hassan Joho as its preferred choice for Deputy President if the party enters into a political partnership with President William Ruto’s United Democratic Alliance (UDA) ahead of the 2027 General Election.
Speaking during an ODM Youth Convention held in Kilifi on Sunday, April 26, Wanga emphasized that ODM would only go into any coalition talks with UDA on an equal footing.
She insisted that any agreement between the two parties must be based on fairness and balance in sharing power.
She stated that ODM considers itself a major political force in the region and therefore expects to be treated as an equal partner in any negotiations. According to her, if one party produces the presidential candidate, the other should be allowed to produce the deputy presidential candidate.
Wanga added that in such a scenario, ODM would likely rally behind Joho, noting that he has the leadership qualities needed for the position.
Although Joho has often been mentioned in political discussions as a possible running mate for President Ruto in 2027, there has also been speculation about other ODM leaders, including Wanga herself, being considered for the role.
Her comments came shortly after the formation of a Broad-Based Management Committee between ODM and UDA following high-level discussions at State House in Nairobi on April 23.
The committee includes Cabinet Secretaries and parliamentary leaders from both sides and is meant to improve cooperation in government work, align priorities, and reduce political tensions.
The arrangement is also expected to help the two parties agree on how to share political space in different regions, including possibly avoiding competition against each other in certain areas during elections.
During the same event, Wanga also criticized some opposition leaders, including former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, accusing them of frequently bringing up the late former Prime Minister Raila Odinga in political discussions.
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