Nassir’s Bold Stand: ‘We Will Not Settle Below Deputy President’

In a sharply worded political declaration that has captured national attention, Mombasa Governor Abdulswamad Shariff Nassir has insisted that the position of Deputy President must be guaranteed to his camp as the minimum acceptable outcome from ongoing broad‑based government negotiations ahead of the 2027 elections.

Speaking during public engagements tied to coalition talks between his Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) and President William Ruto’s ruling partners, Governor Nassir argued that his party’s participation in the unity government should not be seen as symbolic — but as a strategic partnership that must yield substantive leadership representation. According to multiple reports circulating on social media, he has been quoted urging that the deputy presidency go to an ODM representative as an “irreducible minimum” of any power‑sharing arrangement.

As talks continue, all eyes are on how the ODM‑UDA negotiations evolve and whether Nassir’s demands will gain traction within the broader coalition — or face pushback from other powerful political stakeholders who see the deputy presidency as non‑negotiable for their own interests.

BY WANGECI IRUNGU