Suna East MP Junet Mohamed has explained why the ODM Party moved quickly to appoint Oburu Oginga as its new leader following Raila Odinga’s death.
Speaking on Wednesday, January 21, Junet said the party needed to act swiftly to ensure that ODM remained functional and well-organized.
He noted that delaying the appointment could have left the party in a vulnerable position, emphasizing that ODM plays a key role in governance.
Suna East MP Junet Comments on ODM’s Swift Leadership Transition to Oburu Oginga. Photo: Courtesy.
Junet also addressed concerns about Oburu’s age, arguing that advanced years do not hinder leadership.
He cited international examples, noting that leaders such as Zambia’s late Mutharika and Cameroon’s Paul Biya remained active in governance well into their 80s and 90s.
Reflecting on the 2022 elections, Junet insisted that he did not misappropriate campaign funds and expressed frustration that Raila Odinga’s loss was partly influenced by the type of support received from the outgoing government.
He argued that his personal conduct was above reproach, adding that Raila’s defeat was exacerbated by Uhuru Kenyatta’s approach of campaigning from State House rather than engaging directly with voters on the ground.
According to Junet Mohamed, some senior officials had warned him that Raila Odinga would lose to William Ruto, regretting that the campaign was too closely tied to the government.
He confirmed that ODM will stay in the broad-based government until 2027 while exploring future alliances, and expressed optimism about Kenya’s economic outlook despite debt concerns.
