Mount Kenya politics took a sharper turn on Thursday after a strong warning from Alice Ng’ang’a over the future of the Deputy President’s seat within the broad-based government.
Speaking amid rising coalition tensions, Ng’ang’a declared that the DP position is “non-negotiable,” insisting it must remain with Kithure Kindiki.
She warned that any attempt to remove or trade away the seat would provoke a political backlash from the Mount Kenya region, including a possible exit from the broad-based arrangement.
Her remarks come at a time when the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) has openly signalled interest in securing the Deputy President slot as part of ongoing political realignments ahead of the 2027 General Election.
ODM leaders have argued that the party’s numerical strength and national reach justify a higher stake in any future power-sharing deal.
Ng’ang’a’s statement was framed not just as personal opinion, but as a regional position. She portrayed the DP seat as a symbol of Mount Kenya’s place in government, warning that undermining it would be viewed as political exclusion rather than routine negotiation.
The comments underline the growing friction within the broad-based government, where cooperation on governance increasingly collides with early succession politics.
While ODM maintains that seeking the DP seat is a legitimate political demand, leaders allied to Mount Kenya have pushed back, arguing that the position is currently occupied and should not be subjected to pre-election bargaining.
This standoff exposes a deeper dilemma for the coalition. On one hand, ODM is under pressure from its supporters to convert cooperation into tangible power. On the other, regions that feel they already “own” key offices are unwilling to concede ground.
Ng’ang’a’s warning suggests that any attempt to reshuffle top positions could fracture the fragile unity holding the coalition together.
It also signals that the DP debate is no longer a quiet negotiation behind closed doors, but a public contest shaped by regional loyalties.
As ODM continues to press its demand, and Mount Kenya leaders harden their stance, the Deputy President’s seat is fast becoming a flashpoint that could redefine alliances long before Kenyans head to the ballot.
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