By Anderson Ojwang
The Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) Director of Elections, Mr Junet Mohammed, has resurfaced with claims that they have stalled attempts to destroy the party.
Junet had missed the ODM Mombasa strategic meeting, the ODM empowerment engagement in Suna, and last weekend’s Kisumu rally, raising concern over a possible fallout in the party.
And on Wednesday, Junet paid a courtesy call on the party leader, Dr Oburu Oginga, at Pawa House and wrote: “It is always a great pleasure to visit with our Party Leader, Sen. Dr. Oburu Odinga.”
Junet said the ODM party was strong, united, and will strengthen the partnership with President William Ruto’s United Democratic Alliance (UDA).
“The ODM Party is strong, united and determined as never before to strengthen our ruling partnership as we prepare for next year’s polls,” he said.
He said the party had stalled attempts to destroy it and that it was consolidating ahead of next year’s general elections.
“We have stalled all attempts to destroy our party, consolidated our bases and kept our movement mission ready. Join the ODM Party today and secure your electoral future in Kenya,” he said.
But Oburu said he engaged in a strategic meeting with Junet, who is the Assembly Minority Leader, to evaluate the progress of the party.
“Today afternoon, I had a strategic briefing with the National Assembly Minority Leader, Hon. Junet Mohamed (MP, Suna East), and the acting Secretary General, Hon. Catherine Omanyo (County MP, Busia), to evaluate our party’s progress and review our upcoming organisational trajectory,” he said.
He said the deliberations centred on seamlessly anchoring the party’s grassroots mobilisation drives with their legislative priorities in Parliament, ensuring that their oversight and policy execution remain strictly aligned with their core manifesto.
“By bridging the tactical sharpness of our parliamentary leadership with the structural engine of the Secretariat, we continue to reinforce our institutional governance, streamline administrative efficiencies for our regional delegates, and consolidate our political capital as a unified force driven by a clear, long-term roadmap for national impact,” he said.
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 Suba East MP.
And now the question Kenyans and ODM members are asking is: “hii imeenda” ama “enda wapi” (has it gone, or where has it gone to)?
He appeared after it became apparent of a fallout in Linda Ground, with Kisumu Senator Prof Tom Ojienda acknowledging there could be a problem.
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, Dr Oburu 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.”
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.
