How Mudavadi allies are pushing for deputy president slot in 2027

Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi during an interview with The Standard team. [Wilberforce Okwiri, Standard]

As Kenya edges closer to the 2027 General Election, the political spotlight has shifted sharply to Western Kenya, where leaders are now openly demanding a bigger stake in national power.

At the centre of the debate is a growing push for Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi to be picked as President William Ruto’s running mate in the next election.

The demand came out strongly during the annual Maragoli Cultural Festival, where politicians from the Western region put pressure on President Ruto to pick the veteran politician as his deputy in the next government.

Led by Vihiga Woman Representative Beatrice Adagala, several Members of Parliament aligned to Mudavadi called on President Ruto to consider elevating the former Vice President to the second-highest office.

“Our son Mudavadi is capable of being the Deputy President, and even in 2027 he deserves the post,” Adagala said.

This is not the first time Mudavadi’s allies have spoken openly about his suitability for the Deputy Presidency. The recent remarks signal a shift from quiet negotiations to public political pressure.

President Ruto might now find himself under growing pressure, with Western leaders warning that the region’s support for his re-election will depend on whether one of their own is chosen as his running mate.

The Luhya community—Kenya’s second-largest ethnic bloc—has often been divided politically, oscillating between government and opposition. As national politics realign, leaders are now asking whether Western Kenya finally has the bargaining power to claim at least the country’s second-most powerful office in 2027.

Malava MP David Ndakwa said the “Mulembe Nation” has never fully benefited from unity, but insists things will change in the next election cycle.

“Our region is blessed to have a son like Musalia Mudavadi. He is the leader we look up to, and in 2027 we will follow him without question,” Ndakwa said.

Shinyalu MP Fred Ikana described Mudavadi as the community’s kingpin and vowed unwavering support for any political path he chooses.

“We have no choice but to support Mudavadi, and he has the capabilities to take up higher posts in President Ruto’s government,” Ikana said.

Political analyst Moses Ombayo argues that while President Ruto’s running mate could come from any region, Western Kenya still holds leverage if it negotiates strategically.

“The Deputy Presidency slot for President Ruto in 2027 might come from any side. For the Western region, the stakes are high—it’s either negotiate strategically or risk losing the seat,” Ombayo argues.

Khwisero MP Christopher Aseka (ODM) has previously described the Deputy President’s slot as the “bare minimum,” urging other senior Luhya leaders to set aside personal ambitions and rally behind one candidate.

“We want President Ruto’s running mate to come from the Mulembe nation. We have our sons—Mudavadi, Wetang’ula, and Oparanya. They must sit together and give us one of them, and we will rally behind him,” Aseka declared.

Though the Luhya community has produced three Vice Presidents in the past—Mudavadi, the late Michael Kijana Wamalwa, and Moody Awori—it has struggled to field a presidential contender with sustained national appeal. 

Many leaders see 2027 as an opportunity to change that narrative, if not by winning the presidency, then by reclaiming the Deputy Presidency as a stepping stone to 2032.

Emuhaya MP Omboko Milemba said unity and numbers will give Mudavadi strength at the national negotiating table.

“We need to be united and back Mudavadi at the national negotiating table. It is our numbers that will give him strength,” Milemba said.

Others, like former Sabatia MP Alfred Agoi, advocate patience, arguing that supporting President Ruto in 2027 could position Mudavadi for a stronger presidential bid in 2032.

“We need to support the current government initiatives. By doing so, we will secure more benefits for our region in the future,” Agoi said.

Meanwhile, Lurambi MP Titus Khamala insists Western Kenya can no longer afford political marginalisation, while Kakamega Senator Boni Khalwale has warned the government against sidelining the region in development and power-sharing.

“We supported President Ruto in 2022, and we want him to deliver what he promised—we won’t be taken in circles,” Khalwale said at a recent rally.

Still, internal rivalries persist, with figures like Oparanya, Eugene Wamalwa, Peter Salasya, and Okiya Omtatah hinting at presidential ambitions—divisions that have historically diluted Western Kenya’s influence.