By Anderson Ojwang
During the 2022 presidential campaign, Azimio La Umoja Secretary General Junet Mohammed coined a phrase “hii imeenda”, which implied the presidency was already won by their candidate, the late Raila Amolo Odinga.
For Junet, Kenya Kwanza candidate William Ruto had already lost the election, and the phrase has stayed and remained part and parcel of the Suna East MP.
And now the question Kenyans and Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) members are asking is: “hii imeenda” ama “enda wapi” (has it gone or where has it gone to)?
Could there be cracks in the ODM Linda Ground faction that have sent Junet missing in action?
During Raila’s life and after his death, Junet and Homa Bay Governor Gladys Wanga were like Siamese twins and called the shots within and without the party.
After Raila’s death, his elder brother, Dr Oburu Oginga, told the public that while he was at the airport waiting for the remains of his brother to land, Junet broke the news to him of his appointment as the acting party leader of ODM.
Junet’s last appearance at an ODM Linda Ground function was during the Special Delegates Conference (SDC), where the acting party officials were confirmed, with Dr Oburu confirmed as the party leader.
Other officials confirmed into office were Governor Simba Arati and his Mombasa counterpart Abdulsamad Nassir as deputy party leaders, while Vihiga Senator Godfrey Osotsi was sacked.
Homa Bay Governor Gladys Wanga was confirmed as the chairperson, among others.
The Kisumu Rally
Last Sunday’s rally was meant to unite the community towards a common front, and MPs and leaders from the region were expected to attend.
After three weeks of planning and mobilisation, all constituencies from Nyanza were expected to ferry supporters to Kisumu, and Junet was once again missing in action.
In Wanga’s own words, she wrote: “The message from Kisumu is clear: we are done with fragmentation. We seek unity of purpose. We are building a formidable, united front designed to gain power, not for its own sake, but to drive the socioeconomic transformation our people deserve. Historically, our pursuit of power has been defined by resistance and rebellion. Today, we turn a historic page. We are embracing a strategy of cooperation and partnership. This is not a sign of weakness; it is the evolution of our strength. We move forward, stronger together, as one party and one people.”
But the Director of Elections was missing from the action once again, leaving the public to wonder: where is Junet?
When Wanga was contacted about Junet’s absence from ODM functions, she did not respond.
Similarly, Junet did not respond to our text message about his absence from ODM functions.
The re-emergence of the Treasury Cabinet Secretary in the limelight
Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi has re-emerged to take a leading role in the ODM party and, in the company of Wanga, has been traversing Nyanza under what they call empowerment programmes.
Mbadi and Wanga, who were bitter political rivals, have today buried the hatchet and hold joint political functions, with Mbadi even declaring support for Wanga’s re-election as Homa Bay Governor.
Mbadi and Junet have for a long time had a frosty political association, and his current close ties with Wanga and the absence of the Suna East MP from the Dr Oburu Oginga-led faction of Linda Ground speaks volumes.
The CS also stated his readiness to contest the 2032 presidential election, positioning himself among emerging contenders to succeed President William Ruto after his final term.
Mbadi said he was prepared for future leadership responsibilities and used the Kisumu gathering to emphasise unity within the Luo community, urging residents to rally behind key leaders, including National Assembly Speaker Oburu Oginga and Homa Bay Governor Gladys Wanga.
“There is no way our Luo community will not be divided. We must be united behind Oburu and Wanga; we will support them to the end,” he said.
The re-emergence of Mbadi could be part of a wider political game plan for ODM leadership, and the emerging alliances in the political fold could be shaping up for the 2032 presidential contest.
Political analyst Oyugi Odedo said the absence of Junet from ODM functions could be down to a power struggle in the party.
“We have a new leadership structure in the party which may not give Junet direct access, control, and the ears of the party leader like he held during Raila’s time. This may be a discomforting moment, and he may have decided to lie low,” he said.
Odedo said the return of Mbadi into the political fold has also whittled down Junet’s influence, as he has the ear of Oburu and Wanga in the current political dispensation.
“You can see the current political closeness between Migori Governor Ochilo Ayacko, Mbadi and Wanga. This speaks volumes. Junet is closer to Hassan Joho and the Mombasa wing of the ODM team. So it goes without saying that competing interests are taking hold in the ODM party,” he said.
