Kindiki Breaks Silence After ODM Targets His Seat — “We Are Masters of Politics”
Politics in Kenya rarely stays quiet for long. And this weekend? It got interesting.
Deputy President Kithure Kindiki appeared to send a calm but pointed message to the Orange Democratic Movement after party leader Oburu Odinga boldly declared interest in the country’s second-highest office.
Kindiki didn’t look rattled. Not even close.
Speaking on Saturday, February 14, after an impromptu inspection of the Maragwa–Ichagaki–Gamburi road, the Deputy President addressed the growing chatter. And while he didn’t mention names directly, the message was clear.
He wasn’t losing sleep.
“We Are Masters of Politics”
Kindiki chose his words carefully. Almost strategically.
“Do not be unsettled by small things you hear here and there. We are masters of politics and we do not speak carelessly, we speak at the right time,” Kindiki said.
There it was. Calm. Measured. Almost dismissive.
He described himself as a “master of politics” and hinted that a more detailed response would come — but only when the moment is right. Not now. Not in a rush.
It felt like a reminder: in politics, timing is everything.
ODM’s Shift Sparks Tension
The tension didn’t start overnight.
Things began heating up after ODM’s delegates’ meeting in Mombasa on February 12. That’s when Oburu Odinga appeared to shift tone regarding the Deputy President’s seat.
Earlier, he had suggested he had no issue with Kindiki holding the position. But days later, the messaging changed.
“That deputy president seat is what we are targeting very strongly,” Oburu said.
That statement alone stirred conversations across political circles.
Then came Gladys Wanga, who reinforced the party’s current direction during one of their Linda Ground tours. She urged the party to defend its reputation and maintain its identity — not simply fade into the background.
For many observers, it signaled something bigger: ODM is recalibrating. And perhaps repositioning itself within the broad-based government arrangement.
Kenya Kwanza Allies Push Back
But here’s where it gets even more layered.
While Kindiki stayed composed, some of his allies didn’t hide their frustration.
Mary Wathera, MP for Maragua, questioned ODM’s renewed ambition.
“We hold the number two position. Do you want it taken away? Has ODM not just arrived?” Mary Wathera said.
The message? The Deputy President’s seat is not up for discussion.
Other Kenya Kwanza leaders echoed similar sentiments. According to them, neither the presidency nor the deputy presidency is a bargaining chip within the broad-based government framework.
It’s settled. Or at least, that’s how they see it.
“Non-Negotiable,” Says Njuki
Adding his voice to the debate, Muthomi Njuki, the Governor of Tharaka Nithi, dismissed ODM’s ambitions as unrealistic.
“As much as we are in a broad-based government, the seat of the Deputy President is non-negotiable,” Njuki said.
He went further — suggesting that ODM may lack the numbers to back such a push, especially following internal fractures and the emergence of a breakaway faction led by figures like Edwin Sifuna.
In other words, ambition is one thing. Political arithmetic is another.
A Quiet Political Chess Game
So where does this leave things?
On the surface, it’s just political talk. Leaders making statements. Parties asserting influence.
But beneath it? A quiet chess match.
ODM appears to be redefining its role. Kenya Kwanza, on the other hand, is drawing clear boundaries. And Kindiki? He’s choosing patience over panic.
He didn’t lash out. He didn’t escalate. Instead, he sent a subtle message: not every political declaration deserves an immediate response.
Will this rivalry grow louder? Possibly.
But for now, the Deputy President seems comfortable where he stands.
And in Kenyan politics, sometimes the calmest voice carries the strongest message.
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Kindiki Breaks Silence After ODM Targets His Seat — “We Are Masters of Politics”