Mimi nimetosha! Oburu expresses confidence in being Ruto's running mate

Speaking in State House where President William Ruto hosted village elders, Dr Oburu opined that he is qualified to occupy the DP's seat as the party plans to endorse Ruto's presidential ambition.

"As ODM we will not have a candidate, our candidate is President William Ruto but all the other positions are negotiable, particularly number two. Don't you think I deserve to be number two? Mimi nimetosha," he said.

He maintained that the ODM supports the broad-based government agreement to help achieve the administration's ambitious transformation vision for the nation.

Oburu believes that President Ruto has made significant gains in developing the nation, urging critics to desist from watering down his efforts to build the State.

"The president is trying his best and the opposition should also try to bring their own programmes that they want to do to the people," he said.

"We are working with President Ruto in this broad-based government. My small brother Raila Odinga left us there and we are going to work together to make a strong government and always push for having a vision."

The ODM boss further heaped praise for the Head of State, saying that he has still managed to support livelihoods despite the ballooning debt that recently shot up to Ksh.12.82 trillion.

Treasury reported that the debt rose after the State borrowed Ksh.416.2 from multilateral lenders and commercial creditors from January to April to support development projects.

"Some people are saying he is burdening the country with debt, but that debt he is not eating, he is paying the people. If it is something that is benefiting the people we must appreciate it," Oburu added.

This however, comes as ODM and Ruto's United Democratic Alliance (UDA) are at loggerheads over President Ruto's 2027 running mate.

Leaders from the UDA and the ODM have taken differing positions on the coalition's preferred DP candidate, with UDA backing Deputy President Prof. Kithure Kindiki while ODM leaders push for Cooperatives and MSMEs Cabinet Secretary Wycliffe Oparanya.