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Did Raila’s closest ally, Junet Mohammed betray him in death ?

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By Anderson Ojwang

As the dust of death of the Enigma, Raila Amolo Odinga begins to settle, questions are emerging why his trusted lieutenant who was omnipresent in his life did not travel to India to collect his body.
And why he presided over the leadership change in the party hardly 12 hours after Raila’s death and did not wait to honor the mourning period of his boss before the changes were made ?

Raila’s known closest ally, Junet Mohammed, who is also the party Director of Elections is on the spot over allegedly betraying Raila in death.

Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua raised the storm when he claimed that the day Raila died and delegation went to India to bring his body Junet and ODM National chairperson Gladys Wanga were plotting on how to “sell’ the party to President William Ruto.”

“William Ruto has bought ODM. It was sold by Junet and Wanga. They have already received the deposit of sales on the day Raila died. Junet used to be with Raila throughout, he never went to collect his body. He reached at the Jomo Kenyata International Airport and pretended to be sick. And was left behind selling ODM” he said.

But Junet denied Gachagua claims saying he was sick and had undergone a medical procedure.

“I was supposed to be in the team that was supposed to go India but I was still not feeling well. I had a procedure actually. And the records are there. Don’t listen to people like Gachagua who are saying things of gutter. They can say anything. Those are people who belong to the gutter,” he said.

ODM Secretary General Edwin Sifuna said in a recent interview that Junet was scheduled to be in the flight but excused himself that he was not feeling well and so did not travel.

“I remember getting into that flight and I looked around I could not see enough of Raila friends. I was very hungry. I was wondering who are these people going to fetch Mzee,” he said.

Ironically, at the Airport while waiting for the body of Raila to land, Oburu Oginga said Junet broke to him the news of his appointment as the new acting party leader.

“Oburu said he never campaigned to be made the party leader and was shocked to be informed of his appointment as the leader.

Mokuongo nyocha ok atimo campaign mondo chama oketa mondo abed kaka party leader. An Chieng no bende ema oyudo ka jakom ne onindo. Ndege bende oor gi Odhiambo odhi ome to ndege no bende kiny duogo gokinyi (Firstly, I never campaigned to be made the party leader.. That was the day Raila died. A plane had been scheduled to go and bring his body at home)”

Koro saa mane wadhi e airport ne awinjo ni party national executive committee ne romo. To saa apar ga ariyo ma okinyi eka gibiro e airport (On the day of the body arrival, I went to the Airport but I had the party national executive council (NEC) was meeting at 6.00am)

Koro an ka adhi e pap to junet ema openja nip ok iyudo wach ni in e party ? apenje ni party leader nade? Party leader abedo nade. Wach ni ne obuoga. Ne ok angeyo. Okona ni gino ne okadhe nec unanimously ma onge ngama oppingo. Kendo ni governor ma Mombsaa ema ne o proposa (I went to the Airport and Junet came and asked me : Are you aware you have been made the party leader? I shocked and I didn’t know. He told me I was unanimously appointed. That I was proposed by the Mombasa Governor Abdulsammad Nassir)

Apenjo junet to into iparo nade. Okona ni en achiel kuom joms noitiere bura mane okadho gino (I asked Junet about his feelings on the same and he told me he was among the people present at the meeting who voted to appoint me)”

Suba South MP Caroli Omondi gave an insight of what could be happening in the party and the emergence of a mysterious hand pulling shots in the party.

“There was a very quick transition even before Baba’s body arrived. When Mzee Oburu announced that he had accepted to be the party leader, he said he did not even know that there was a process to make him party leader.
What that implies is that, that call came from somewhere else. And that worries me a lot. This is because, it therefore seems that ODM is getting directions and controls from somewhere else,”
he said

Betrayal at the Airport and Stadia

Sifuna said chaos witnessed at the Airport and Kasarani international stadium were as a result of absence of party leadership and availability of public address system at the facilities.

“I was angry at Nyayo stadium that Baba even when he was the prime minister, there used to be fight about him getting police escort and suddenly we have these police outriders in front of his casket, which should have been his tour of inauguration when he was going around the stadium.
Things that were denied to Raila during his life time. I was totally hungry that they blacked out his party colors at the Nyayo stadium.
I was very angry that they didn’t even mention his political party and because we used to drape people coffins in party colors and they did not allow us to drape his coffin in party colors.
I feel the state mismanaged the arrival of the body at the airport, if there was a public address system outside the airport and the leadership of the party were there to calm the people down, we couldn’t have witnessed such scenes, because members of the party want to see familiar faces in those times,”
he said.

ODM in financial capture: Who is the financier?

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By Anderson Ojwang

IN three months, the late Raila Amolo Odinga’s Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) could be going through what is termed as financial capture.

Unlike Raila, who relied on party members, governors and himself to fund party activities, hardly ninety days after his death the party is swimming in millions of shillings that were hard to come by when he was alive.

‘A philanthropist or a financier has taken the reins of the party and is dictating the terms as ODM embarks on Linda Ground activities.’

Unlike before, when delegates footed their own bills or were sponsored by the area Member of Parliament and governors, currently the delegates are hosted in star hotels and paid allowances ranging from Sh 7,000,000 to Sh 20,000 depending on the cadres.

Party Secretary General Edwin Sifuna revealed that the funds and resources being used in the ongoing Linda Ground engagements did not come from the party.

He said the party is owed over Sh 12 billion by the government in political party funds, which has negated its operations.

“The money and the resources you see being spent on the ODM rallies called Linda Ground do not come from ODM headquarters.
For me, I can only account for the monies because I am a signatory to the bank accounts; Timothy Bosire is also a signatory to the bank accounts. The last money we expended as ODM officially was for the celebration in Mombasa, and it was a fraction of what you saw there,”
he said.

Sifuna said there was parallel funding of political activities in the party and they did not know where the funds were coming from.

“For a fact, there is parallel funding for activities clothed in ODM colours, and they go around saying they are ODM delegates.
The Linda Ground activities are not financed from the ODM coffers and headquarters. There is no money that I executed a cheque for those activities.
We did not have any money; the third-quarter remittance from the Exchequer came two weeks ago, about Sh 100 million, and it is a drop in the ocean compared to what exactly ODM is supposed to receive.
ODM is owed a total of Sh 12 billion by the Treasury, yet we are being told that my former chairperson is the Cabinet Secretary for the Treasury,”
he said.

Kisumu Woman Representative Ruth Odinga supported Sifuna’s concerns over the financing of the ODM Linda Ground activities and wondered about the source of the money flowing into the party.

“. As a signatory to the ODM account, if he questions where all the money for choppers, big tents and ODM-branded T-shirts and caps in the ‘Linda Ground’ conventions is coming from, why should anyone abuse him?

He admitted on national TV that the ODM Party has not spent a single coin on the campaigns, which run into millions of shillings. Those with the answers, why can’t you provide them? Are governors funding the campaigns? Are MPs doing it from the CDF kitty? Did we get a philanthropist that the Party SG is not aware of who is funding the clearly expensive public fora? And what is in it for the ‘philanthropist’?” she questioned.

Ruth wondered why the government was not releasing the Sh 12 billion owed to the party.

“Where is the money used in flying choppers, procuring big tents and mobilising and branding crowds in ODM colours coming from, yet the same money cannot be sent to the ODM Party bank accounts? This only means one thing: control.

According to SG Sifuna, ODM is owed a staggering Sh 12 billion by the government. This is a constitutional requirement based on the strength of the political party.

The government has the option of releasing the funds to the party, but when that happens, they will lack control.

So they must be the ones controlling the show, where they decide who is ‘invited’ to the Linda Ground tents and what they say once they get there. Anything outside the script attracts immediate booing, as was the case with Suba North MP Hon. Millie Odhiambo at the Ciala Resort in Kisumu,” she said.

Last week, speaking in South Rift, the besieged Oketch Salah said he was financially prepared to buy out delegates to support the election of Oburu as the party leader at the NDC.

“It is our request to allow Dr Oburu to begin discussions with President William Ruto on the pre-election coalition pact. Do you agree and accept that Dr Oburu, as the party leader, should begin the talks?
When we go to the National Delegates Conference (NDC), all the delegates who are here, if anyone tries to bribe you, just know we have the money. If they try to bribe you, do not agree. We have the money. Do not be bribed by anyone. If anyone wants to bribe you so that you vote against Dr Oburu, come to me and ask me for money,”
he said.

Ruth decried the presence of huge amounts of money in the ODM party, which she said was negating its basic principles and operations.

Ruth wondered where the huge amounts of money currently being used by the party were coming from.

But we are seeing a situation where a lot of money is flying around, and there appears to be a deliberate approach to commit the ODM Party into a coalition agreement more than a year to the next general elections.

Where is the money coming from? Is it in the Budget and Appropriations Committee at the National Assembly? I know that the government has not given the ODM Party money. So where is all the money coming from?” she asked.

Recently, Cabinet Secretary Wycliffe Oparanya lamented how the insatiable love for money was destroying the party and going against the grain and principles of the founder leader, the late Raila Amolo Odinga.

Historic Aspirants Forum: A wake-up call to Ruto, attendance data raises concern

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By Anderson Ojwang

Despite the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) of President William Ruto attracting a historic turnout by aspirants, the State House forum acted as a wake-up call to the President.

UDA made history as the first political party in the multi-party era to attract the highest number of aspirants, 12,353, but the data portrays a worrying reality for the President ahead of the 2027 general election.

President Ruto could be enjoying the bragging right of his party attracting thousands of aspirants nationally, but the reality check is that all is not well in the den and he must act to change the emerging narrative.

Mt Kenya, which was the determinant and a springboard to Ruto’s victory in the 2022 presidential election, seems to have walked away from the marriage and could be seeking new suitors.

The impeachment of Rigathi Gachagua as Ruto’s deputy and the subsequent replacement by Prof Kithure Kindiki has radically changed the allegiance and shifted political loyalty.

From the statistics, Rift Valley attracted the greatest number of aspirants, standing at 5,308, while Central Kenya recorded 1,130, Western Kenya 1,200 and Nyanza stood at 1,095.

The Coastal region stood at 586, while Nairobi received 968 aspirants who registered and attended the meeting at State House. North Eastern stood at 586, while Eastern was at 1,479.

Rift Valley, the bedrock

Rift Valley is the President’s political backyard and UDA is the dominant political party in the region. In the last general election, all the counties in Rift Valley, predominantly Kalenjin-speaking counties, overwhelmingly voted for President Ruto.

The UDA wave left several political casualties in the region, including KANU chairman Gideon Moi, who lost the Baringo senatorial election.

The UDA dominance in the region has precipitated defections into the party by bigwigs from the region, including former Bomet Governor Isaac Ruto, among others.

The predominantly Kalenjin-speaking counties had the highest number of gubernatorial aspirants, while the cosmopolitan counties in the Rift Valley had few or even no aspirants.

Kericho County attracted 13 gubernatorial aspirants, while Baringo had 16, Bomet attracted three, Nandi had 10, Uasin Gishu six and Elgeyo Marakwet attracted 10.

Cosmopolitan counties such as Kajiado attracted one, Laikipia none, Nakuru three, Narok four, and Nyandarua attracted nil.

President Ruto’s political backyard of Rift Valley, for the moment, is solid and safe, and he will harvest similar votes to those he did in the last general elections.

Mt Kenya, diminishing fortunes

The restive Mt Kenya region has refused to calm down and continues to rebel against President Ruto, whom they overwhelmingly voted for in the 2022 presidential election.

The combined force of former President Uhuru Kenyatta and Gachagua is causing a political coup in the region against President Ruto and his deputy, Prof Kithure Kindiki.

In Kiambu County, only three aspirants have expressed interest in the governor seat, while in Kirinyaga and Nyeri only one aspirant has shown interest respectively, while in Murang’a none has shown interest.

Top guns in UDA from the region gave the forum a wide berth, a move which left tongues wagging and several questions emerging.

Nyanza, the hunting ground

Nyanza, which is the bedrock of the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) of the late Raila Odinga, for the first time attracted aspirants from the region hoping to run on a UDA ticket.

However, in Kisumu County, the heart of Nyanza politics, the seat of governor did not attract any candidate, while in Homa Bay it attracted political minnows Odoyo Owidi and Mark Matunga.

In Migori, the post of governor attracted four aspirants, while in Siaya it attracted two, and in Kisii and Nyamira it attracted one and two aspirants respectively.

Currently, President Ruto and ODM party leader Dr Oburu Oginga are working on a pre-election pact ahead of the next general election. Recently, Oburu declared that ODM would not demand the post of Deputy President.

However, the pact is facing opposition from a section of leaders in ODM and the region, who have termed it premature.

Western region

Western Kenya was pivotal in President Ruto’s victory and entered into a political coalition with Musalia Mudavadi of the Amani Party and Moses Wetangula of Ford-K. Mudavadi was appointed Prime Cabinet Secretary, while Wetangula became the Speaker of the National Assembly.

Mudavadi dissolved his Amani Party to join UDA, but the court recently overruled the dissolution and the merger with UDA.

Kakamega County attracted three gubernatorial aspirants, while Vihiga attracted one, Bungoma four and Busia nil. Ruto is hoping to build his re-election momentum from Western Kenya and Nyanza, which explains his heavy investment in the two regions.

Eastern region

This is likely to be the battleground, as it is the political bedrock of Azimio La Umoja party leader Kalonzo Musyoka.

Similarly, it is the home ground of Deputy President Kindiki. It is set to be a battleground.

Kitui County attracted three aspirants for the gubernatorial seat, Makueni two, Machakos none, while Tharaka Nithi attracted two, Meru one and Embu did not attract any gubernatorial aspirant.

North Eastern

Garissa attracted one gubernatorial aspirant, while Wajir attracted four, Mandera attracted six aspirants and Marsabit three. This shows the growing appeal of President Ruto in the region.

Ruto declares confidence in Kindiki, closing door to DP slot suitors

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Deputy President Kithure Kindiki taking oath

By Anderson Ojwang

After the recent declaration by the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) party leader, Dr Oburu Oginga, that his party was not eyeing the deputy president slot in the pre-election pact, President William Ruto has moved to declare his confidence in his deputy, Prof Kithure Kindiki.

Speaking at the UDA Aspirant Forum, President Ruto declared that Kindiki was an able assistant and that he has confidence in his leadership and fits the bill.

“Huyu Naibu wa Rais, Abraham Kithure Kindiki, anatosha ama hatoshi? Ni fire si fire? You know, at one time, I was Uhuru Kenyatta’s deputy.
The work this gentleman is doing is what I did when I was the deputy to President Uhuru Kenyatta. That is the truth. I am happy that currently, I have a principal assistant who knows his duties and role.
Allow me to ask, if it was that other former deputy, could he have the brains to understand his role like Kindiki does? Now you know, my work has been lessened. I have an assistant who understands the government,”
he said.

On Monday, in Kisumu, Oburu said before President Ruto and his deputy, Prof Abraham Kithure Kindiki, that ODM was not eyeing the deputy president slot.

Oburu said, “Deputy President, do not think we want your seat and that we want to chase you away. No. Please, you are our friend, but as we negotiate, we are going to negotiate what our people deserve and what our party deserves.
ODM is not a Luo party, but it is a national party. We will negotiate fairly. We are not going to take anybody’s share. Everybody will get their fair share,”
he said.

Last year, in a TV interview, Oburu had declared that ODM would demand the deputy presidency in the coalition arrangement.

Oburu said then that ODM would not accept any position lower than that of Deputy President in any pre-election coalition ahead of the 2027 General Election.

He maintained that the party would only negotiate for top positions from a position of strength and not desperation.

“If we have to go for a lower position, it must not be lower than number two (Deputy President) in any formation. That is my take. We should not take less than that,” he said.

Oginga said ODM’s priority is to rebuild and unite its grassroots base to retain influence in national politics.

“I want my people of ODM to strengthen ODM as a party. If we are going to start talking about the position we will occupy there, we will get nothing,” he said.

“Nobody will respect you or negotiate with you if you are a weak party. Our emphasis is on strengthening ODM so that we can negotiate for the top position in the land.”

Oburu, on Monday, said he would be leading ODM during the negotiations and promised to lead the party to Canaan through Singapore.

“I am leading ODM. When you follow flies, it will take you to the pit latrine, and when you follow bees, you will get to the honey.
We are in talks with UDA. We are going to make sure that we have more than what we have currently.
We will start talking. With UDA, some people are saying we are in a hurry. We are not in a hurry. The election is next year. We must prepare in advance. I want to tell you that I will take you to Canaan through Singapore.”

A section of ODM leaders from the Coastal region, during Raila Odinga’s posthumous birthday, declared that their irreducible minimum was the slot of Deputy President in 2027 in exchange for supporting President Ruto.

The leaders proposed Cabinet Secretary Hassan Joho for the Deputy President post.

During a recent ODM Linda Ground meeting in Kisumu, Rarieda MP Otiende Amollo told Oburu that, as the party leader of ODM, he could not double up as the lead negotiator in the ODM–President William Ruto’s United Democratic Alliance (UDA) pre-election coalition pact.

“Mokuongo amor. Chieng kacha an ema ne awacho ni structured negotiations. Sani Daktari ka itelonwa, joma obiro ka, oyie ni nyaka wadhi e structured negotiations. To nyaka wadhiye
(At the beginning, it was me who spoke about structured dialogue. Currently, Dr Oburu, you are our leader. Everyone in attendance agrees that we must have structured negotiations).

Ka iwacho ni structured negotiation, ok ochuno ni ipingo. Matiende ni wa gin lemo moko. Wadwaro ni wan bende omedwa lemo
(If we talk about structured negotiations, it does not mean we are against the talks. We are demanding more slots).

Daktari saa ma wadhi e structured negotiations, in kik ibed mbele bed chien. In ja telo. Thuonu ok bed mbele. Wasigu nyalo nege
(Dr Oburu, now we are heading into structured negotiations. You should not lead the talks. You are our leader and you cannot be at the front. You could be killed and we would remain without a leader).

Ibed ki ji ma kisungu luongo ni the first right of acceptance and the first right of refusal
(You must have what they call the first right of acceptance and the first right of refusal).

Ka dhi maber to iwacho ni ayie. Ka dhi marach to iwacho ni adagi. Wan ema itiyo kodwa. Wan e foot soldiers. Jowa mantie gi are foot soldiers. Kata onegwa onge rach tek ni thuonwa to pod ngima
(If it is right, you accept, and if it is wrong, you refuse. Use your foot soldiers. Even if the foot soldiers are killed, that is normal, provided the leader remains safe)
,” he said.

Reviving Azimio Is a Breath of Fresh air for Babu and Sifuna

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Reviving Azimio Is a Breath of Fresh air for Babu and Sifuna

The revival of the Azimio Coalition Party is not a matter of nostalgia. It is a political necessity, especially for Edwin Sifuna, Babu Owino and a growing list of ODM rebels including Kibagendi, Osotsi and others whose political relevance is increasingly under threat within a drifting ODM.

Without Azimio, these leaders remain trapped in an internal party rebellion with no national ladder to climb. With Azimio, they immediately regain altitude, visibility and bargaining power at the highest level of national politics. That is the brutal reality.

There is nothing preventing the Azimio Chairman from formally elevating Sifuna, Winnie Odinga and Babu Owino as Deputy Party Leaders under Kalonzo Musyoka. ODM is the largest shareholder in Azimio and must stop behaving like a tenant in a house it helped build. Power within coalitions is never begged for, it is asserted.

Azimio remains the only opposition vehicle with true national appeal. It sells across regions without apology or ethnic confinement. More importantly, it is the only legitimate platform through which the Raila Odinga political inheritance can be claimed. The Azimio symbol, the iconic “R”, is inseparable from Raila Odinga’s final presidential run. That brand equity did not vanish with his retirement from active contestation.

For the first time, Azimio can mount a serious six piece assault countrywide. This coalition of over twenty political parties is not a ceremonial outfit. Properly retooled, it has the numbers, structures and history to redraw the political map in ways deeply uncomfortable for William Ruto.

Azimio inherits nationwide structures that Ruto’s regime has failed to neutralise. These networks only require minimal oiling to roar back to life. Anyone dismissing this advantage misunderstands the long game of Kenyan politics. Uhuru Kenyatta’s strategic genius in constructing this political architecture remains one of the most consequential interventions in recent history.

The direction forward is also becoming clearer. With Kalonzo Musyoka as Coalition Leader, the path to him becoming the 2027 presidential candidate is almost inevitable. A ticket anchored by Kalonzo and reinforced by figures such as Wycliffe Oparanya or George Natembeya would be a hard, disciplined and nationally balanced force.

The choice before ODM rebels is simple. Continue fighting internal battles with diminishing returns, or seize Azimio and reposition themselves at the centre of national power. Politics rewards the bold, not the loyal.

Kalonzo wins the IEBC battle after CEO is booted out

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By Anderson Ojwang

Twelve hours after his appointment as the leader of the Azimio Umoja Coalition, Kalonzo Musyoka is basking in another victory. This time, it is the sacking of Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) Chief Executive Officer Hussein Marjan.

The sacking of the Commission’s Secretary is a victory for the united opposition in their quest to defeat President William Ruto in the 2027 presidential elections.

With only 18 months to the 2027 General Election, the sacking of the CEO opens the Commission to new blood to run and manage the next general election and weeds out top leadership at the Secretariat that presided over the 2022 General Election.

Recently, Kalonzo demanded the immediate sacking of the CEO, accusing him of mishandling the last General Election and renewing contracts even before the Commission was reconstituted.

In a press statement, the IEBC said, “The IEBC today announces the formal exit of its Chief Executive Officer and Commission Secretary, Mr Hussein Marjan, after reaching an agreement to terminate his services by mutual consent. This, in effect, brings to an end his tenure at the IEBC and marks the beginning of the process of recruiting a new CEO and Secretary to the Commission.”

The Commission assured Kenyans that any changes would be designed to ensure effective institutional preparedness, strengthen internal accountability and results-oriented systems, and enhance leadership.

“The IEBC Secretariat is very crucial in service delivery on electoral management and related matters, and it is the intention of the Commission that it reflects the level of preparedness, passion, and commitment to delivering credible, free, and fair elections in Kenya,” read the statement in part.

The sacked CEO wrote, “As you may be aware, the Commission and I have mutually agreed on a structured transition in the Office of the Commission Secretary/Chief Executive Officer. I write to you today to express my sincere appreciation to each one of you for the privilege of serving alongside you over the years.”

Kalonzo demanded the immediate sacking of the CEO and had threatened to lead a protest to the IEBC offices.

“We are saying Marjan cannot preside over the elections as the CEO because he has only one year to the end of his contract. Let the Commission prepare his package and pay him off. He is the problem. We cannot have him; let him pack and go. We tell the new commissioners that they have a destiny with Kenyans,” he said.

Kalonzo accused Marjan of extending the contracts of service providers when the Commission had not been reconstituted and termed the move illegal.

“We agreed that the CEO of IEBC, when there was no Commission, moved with a lot of speed and renewed those contracts. He signed everything, and when the new commissioners came in, they found he had renewed the contracts. This was an illegal thing. He was not supposed to do it,” he said.

Kalonzo said that as one of the chairpersons in the NADCO team, they had recommended in the report that the CEO, Marjan, be sacked and should not be allowed to preside over the 2027 General Election.

“I was in the NADCO team. We recommended that Marjan be sacked. He undertook direct procurement and extended the contracts up to 2026,” he said.

Former Attorney General Justin Muturi had claimed that in July last year, Marjan met officials of Smartmatic in what he believed to be a conspiracy to rig the 2027 elections.

President William Ruto’s allies, led by his aide Faruk Kibet, told off the opposition over the attack on the IEBC.

“We have seen the opposition camping at the IEBC headquarters and the police. They have sensed defeat,” Faruk said.

Faruk also took a swipe at former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, suggesting he should apply to become the Chairperson of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) so that he could declare Ruto the winner of the 2027 election.

Speaking at a recent empowerment forum at Kisuluni Chief’s Camp, Kikumbulyu North Ward, Kibwezi West, Makueni County, Faruk mocked Gachagua’s concerns about the credibility of the electoral commission.

“And this issue of IEBC, I see, is troubling this tribalist. I don’t want to, I’m asking Mutuse, let this person (Gachagua) apply to IEBC to be given the position of chairman. We will just defeat him there, even when he is the chairman. He himself will announce that William Ruto has won the election,” Kibet said.

With the changes, the IEBC has blown the first whistle, and the battle for the coveted seat is now open and is likely to be muddy and gruelling.

The exit of the CEO now opens the Commission to another battlefront in the appointment of a new Secretary. Who will have their say and way?

Owili’s Moment: How ODM Is Recalibrating Kisumu Politics

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By James Okoth

President William Ruto’s recent visit to Kisumu may turn out to be more than a symbolic olive branch extended to an opposition stronghold. The optics of that visit, particularly the visible warmth between Kisumu Deputy Governor Dr Mathew Owili, President Ruto, and ODM elder Dr Oburu Odinga, have reignited debate about the future of Kisumu’s gubernatorial race and the evolving dynamics within the Orange Democratic Movement.

For years, Kisumu has stood as the ideological heartland of ODM, a county defined by loyalty to Raila Odinga, a fierce defence of opposition politics, and resistance to the Kenya Kwanza administration’s political narrative. But politics in Kenya, much like a river, changes course when the terrain shifts. What is now unfolding in Kisumu suggests that the old boundaries between government and opposition are quietly dissolving.

Dr Owili’s political positioning is especially significant. As the Deputy Governor and now a leading contender to succeed Governor Anyang’ Nyong’o, his growing proximity to both State House and the Odinga family hints at an emerging consensus among political elites. “In Kisumu, alignment of this nature is never accidental,” observed a senior ODM figure familiar with the county’s internal dynamics. “It often signals where the wind is blowing within the party.”

Owili has long enjoyed goodwill within ODM’s top circles. Many insiders view him as a steady and acceptable continuity candidate within the Raila Odinga political orbit, a leader who can balance loyalty to the party with pragmatism in dealing with the national government. His public gestures of cooperation with national leaders, combined with his consistent deference to ODM’s core leadership, suggest a carefully managed political recalibration.

This shift mirrors what is happening at the national level. ODM’s increasing engagement with the Kenya Kwanza administration under the cooperation framework has begun to influence county-level politics. Kisumu, once considered unthinkable terrain for such political collaboration, is now emerging as a test case for ODM’s post-opposition identity.

If the party intends to maintain influence and political stability within a cooperative national arrangement, zoning the Kisumu gubernatorial seat in favour of a figure like Dr Owili could appear both strategic and inevitable. His candidacy represents continuity for ODM loyalists, comfort for national actors seeking stability, and a possible bridge across the old political divide.

However, this pragmatic shift also exposes deep tensions within ODM’s base. Aspirants such as Dr Joshua Oron, Aduma Owuor, and Senator Tom Ojienda, who have each cultivated their own followings, may view such a move as premature or exclusionary. Whether they will rally behind a single candidate endorsed by the party hierarchy remains uncertain.

“The danger for ODM is not necessarily losing the seat,” said a Kisumu-based political analyst. “It is the confusion within its ranks. People are asking, what does ODM stand for now — opposition or cooperation?”

Yet in modern Kenyan politics, proximity to power is often the currency of survival. Development projects, government appointments, and political relevance increasingly depend on constructive engagement rather than perpetual confrontation. If Dr Owili eventually emerges as ODM’s consensus candidate, it will signify not just his personal breakthrough but a broader political evolution: the moment Kisumu’s politics formally entered a post-opposition era.

Whether voters embrace this change or resist it will define Kisumu’s next political chapter. What remains certain is that ODM, once defined by protest and defiance, is quietly rewriting its playbook, replacing ideological rigidity with strategic pragmatism. In that unfolding story, Dr Mathew Owili stands at the centre of a delicate and defining transition.

Gunmen Strike in Macalder: Residents Decry Rising Insecurity in Gold Mining Hub

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By Erick Otieno

Residents of Macalder Town in Nyatike Sub-County have raised alarm over worsening insecurity following a deadly robbery incident in which a couple was shot at close range by armed attackers.

The victims, Mr Francis Juma and his wife, Madam Jedida Otieno, were ambushed on Monday evening shortly after leaving their M-Pesa shop within Macalder Town. The attack occurred near the Macalder Police residential area, where the assailants reportedly opened fire before fleeing with an undisclosed amount of money.

Mr Juma and his wife sustained serious gunshot wounds and are currently fighting for their lives in separate hospitals in Migori and Kisumu.

Speaking to journalists, Mr Vincent Aketch, the father of Mr Juma, condemned the persistent insecurity in the area.

“We are living in fear. Two weeks ago, another shooting happened near the same place, and up to now, nothing has been communicated to the public. We want justice and protection,” said Mr Aketch.

Residents noted that the latest incident is part of a worrying trend of violent crime in the gold-rich region, which had remained largely peaceful for decades.

Macalder Kanyarwanda Member of County Assembly (MCA) Hon. Felix Okwanyo, while addressing residents at the Nyatike North Deputy County Commissioner’s office, expressed disappointment with the security agencies for what he termed as laxity.

“It is unfortunate that insecurity is rising in an area that has been peaceful for many years. The security team must take responsibility for this failure,” said Okwanyo.

He urged residents to remain vigilant and report suspicious individuals, noting that the mining site has attracted many foreigners from neighbouring countries.

“We have many strangers in the mining area, some from the Democratic Republic of Congo, Rwanda, Burundi, Tanzania and other regions. People must be alert and report anything unusual,” he added.

The MCA called for collective action from all stakeholders to address the insecurity, warning that it poses a serious threat to Nyatike’s fast-growing economy. He further appealed to the Principal Secretary for Internal Security, Dr Raymond Omollo, to intervene and consider transferring officers who have overstayed in the area.

Nyatike North Deputy County Commissioner Mr Daniel Omukoko confirmed the incident and assured the public that investigations are under way.

“We have launched investigations, and we are confident that the perpetrators will be arrested and brought to book,” said Omukoko.

He also warned illegal foreign nationals operating in the area that they would be dealt with in accordance with Kenyan law.

Mr Omukoko revealed that a spent cartridge was recovered at the scene and would be forwarded to the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) headquarters in Nairobi for forensic analysis.

“The recovered cartridge will help us establish the firearm used in the attack,” he stated.

Several residents, led by Mr Jack Okeyo and Ms Emily Akoth, lamented the growing insecurity, saying it has created fear and uncertainty among hardworking community members.

“We have struggled for years to build our livelihoods here. Now we live in fear because of criminals,” said Ms Akoth.

They called on the government to enhance security patrols, increase police presence, and fast-track investigations to restore peace in the busy mining town.

As Macalder continues to attract investors and miners due to its rich gold deposits, residents are urging authorities to act decisively before insecurity cripples the region’s economic potential.

All Ordinary Level School Leavers Should Join Technical Training

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Billy Mijungu

By Billy Mijungu

Kenya Vision 2030 seeks to transform the country into a newly industrialising middle income nation driven by a skilled productive and globally competitive workforce. At the centre of this ambition is human capital development that aligns education training and labour market needs. It is within this framework that all ordinary level school leavers should be required to undergo technical training before joining university.

The Technical and Vocational Education and Training reforms already recognise skills development as a core pillar of national growth. Through technical training institutes vocational colleges and centres of excellence government policy has increasingly shifted towards competence based education practical skills acquisition and industry relevance. Making technical training a prerequisite for university admission would therefore be a a consolidation of existing reforms.

Vision 2030 identifies manufacturing infrastructure development housing and value addition as key drivers of economic growth. These sectors depend heavily on artisans technicians and technologists rather than degree holders alone. Kenya however continues to face a serious shortage of plumbers electricians welders bricklayers tailors mechanics and other skilled workers. Requiring all school leavers to pass through technical institutions would directly address this gap and support national development priorities.

This policy would also correct the social bias that places university education above technical skills. TVET reforms seek to elevate technical training to equal status with academic pathways by promoting dignity of labour employability and entrepreneurship. A mandatory skills phase would ensure that every young person exits the education system with a marketable competency thereby reducing youth unemployment and underemployment.

Recognition of Prior Learning as provided for under the TVET legal and policy framework must be fully institutionalised. Individuals who are self taught or who have acquired skills through apprenticeships or on the job experience should be assessed recognised and certified. Such certification should allow progression to higher training or university education in line with the principles of inclusivity lifelong learning and productivity embedded in Vision 2030.

Ultimately this policy would create a technically empowered population capable of driving industrialisation innovation and sustainable economic growth. By anchoring university education on prior skills training Kenya would be investing in an education system that responds to economic realities. This is a forward looking industrial capacity driven policy that fully reflects the spirit and intent of Vision 2030 and the ongoing TVET reforms.

Uhuru in control: Reshaping the opposition politics to face President Ruto

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By Anderson Ojwang

Former President Uhuru Kenyatta is not done with his mission. He is back to the drawing board and strategically calculating the 2027 presidential contest.

For the second term, Uhuru will face off with his former deputy and ally-turned bitter political rival, President William Ruto.

Despite the defeat of Azimio la Umoja in the 2022 presidential election, Uhuru is back in the ring, this time more battle-hardened and strategic.

Uhuru, having learnt a hard lesson after his preferred presidential candidate, the enigma Raila Amolo Odinga, lost to Kenya Kwanza candidate President William Ruto by 200,000 votes, is not leaving anything to chance.

This time, Uhuru has his eyes firmly set on the presidency, and that is why he has crafted a raft of strategies and changes within the coalition.

First, Uhuru has moved to revitalise his Jubilee Party and made significant changes and appointments in the leadership.

Uhuru appointed former Cabinet Secretary Dr Fred Matiang’i as his deputy in the party and a probable presidential candidate.

He equally moved Jeremiah Kioni from the position of Secretary-General and replaced him with Mr Richard Moitalel ole Kenta.

“The Jubilee Party National Executive Committee, under the leadership of Uhuru Kenyatta, is pleased to announce the appointment of former Narok North MP Mr Richard Moitalel ole Kenta as the party Secretary-General.”

In November last year, Uhuru had admonished Kioni for what he termed as “insults” against Rigathi Gachagua.

“And you, Kioni. This habit of routinely seeing you online insulting other leaders — this or that, sometimes Gachagua — what for? I don’t want that kind of rubbish,” he said.

“Anyone using my party to insult others will have to go. I will ensure you are kicked out, and you will have to go and get yourself another party to propagate that kind of rubbish.”

Kioni was seen as a critic of DCP leader Rigathi Gachagua and an antagonist in Mt Kenya politics.

Uhuru has equally agreed to a political truce with his former personal assistant, Rigathi. The two have united and are likely to lock President Ruto’s UDA out of the Mt Kenya region.

Gachagua, in a recent TV interview, downplayed his past political attacks on Uhuru, saying his criticism during the 2022 campaigns was purely part of the rough-and-tumble of politics and not driven by personal animosity.

“Campaigning was campaigning; when you are campaigning, there are no rules. It’s rough and nothing personal, really. We were just looking for leadership,” he said. “The things that were said then dropped immediately when the election was over. You don’t bother about them.”

Gachagua, who has since fallen out with Ruto, been impeached, and is now eyeing the country’s top seat in 2027, said politics should not be taken personally, describing election campaigns as “not a church affair or a wedding.”

“When you’re looking for votes, you come up with all sorts of issues against your opponents. And really, there is nothing personal. Once the elections are over, you move on,” he said.

Recently, Kalonzo negotiated a handshake between Uhuru and Gachagua, which is a force likely to lock out President Ruto in Mt Kenya.

Yesterday, Uhuru made changes in Azimio la Umoja by appointing Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka as the leader of the coalition.

He also sacked immediate former Secretary-General Junet Mohamed and replaced him with Suba South MP Caroli Omondi.

The appointment of Kalonzo is likely to trigger political excitement within the united opposition and give a clear signal of a possible presidential line-up to face off with Ruto.

“I graciously accept my appointment as Party Leader of Azimio La Umoja One Kenya Coalition. I thank our chairman, President Uhuru Kenyatta, the coalition leadership, and all constituent parties for this trust. I congratulate my colleagues entrusted with various leadership positions.

Azimio continues to represent the hopes of millions who believe in justice, inclusivity, and a Kenya that works for everyone. We welcome other like-minded individuals and parties to join us as the government in waiting.

This is bigger than any individual; it is about Kenya. I urge my fellow countrymen and women not to despair. Together, we will offer principled leadership focused on national renewal,” he wrote on his social media handles.

The removal of Junet, who was recently accused of undermining Raila’s presidential bid, and his replacement with Caroli is seen as a powerful statement.

Recently, ODM Secretary-General Edwin Sifuna accused Junet of misappropriating agents’ funds and bungling Raila’s campaigns.

Sifuna also accused the party’s Director of Elections, Junet Mohamed, of allegedly failing to pay presidential agents.

Sifuna blamed Junet for undermining Raila’s chances of forming the government in the 2022 general election.

“We are now mourning. If it was not for you, we could have formed the government,” Sifuna said.

Sifuna, who spoke at a funeral in Mt Kenya, demanded a thorough audit of the 2022 presidential campaigns.

“The day we will start the audit of the 2022 elections, it is good you have started the debate. Let everyone say their contributions in the 2022 general elections,” he said.

Junet denied the accusations and instead blamed former President Uhuru Kenyatta, whom he accused of appointing his blood brother, Muhoho Kenyatta, to manage the agents’ funds.

“The answer is simple, clear and verifiable: Former President Uhuru Kenyatta released the funds meant for election agents to his blood brother, Muhoho Kenyatta,” he said.

Similarly, former United Democratic Alliance (UDA) Secretary-General Cleophas Malala claimed that Junet was Ruto’s “agent” in Raila’s team and leaked ODM agents’ data.

“Junet Mohammed has been Raila’s right-hand man for a very long epoch. He was the one managing and ensuring Baba took his medicine on time. He was closer to Baba than even his children.

I want to confirm here, in this interview today, I was William Ruto’s right-hand man. We were in UDA; at night, Junet used to come and see William Ruto.

Brief him on everything. We even had the list of agents for ODM across the country. We knew who was going to be an ODM agent in which place courtesy of Junet,” he claimed.

Similarly, the Azimio La Umoja Volunteer Board, through one of its members, Ronny Raburu, accused Junet of shedding crocodile tears when he failed to address the Central Kenya agents’ issue.

Ronny Raburu said that despite addressing the agents’ issue with Raila at a breakfast meeting and detailing Junet to urgently handle the matter, the latter went mute.

Raila’s chief agent during the August 9 elections, Saitabao Kanchory, claimed that Raila only listened to one person — Suna East MP Junet Mohamed.

“We could not have lost this election if it weren’t for three people. The first one is Junet Mohamed, the second is Joe Mucheru, and the third is Makau Mutua. These are people I have worked with and respect, but in terms of responsibility, they take the highest responsibility,” he said on NTV.