JUNET MOHAMED explains why OBURU OGINGA was hurriedly installed as ODM leader after RAILA ODINGA's death - “ODM is a small Government”

Thursday, January 22, 2026 - Suna East MP, Junet Mohamed, has defended the Orange Democratic Movement’s (ODM) decision to quickly appoint Oburu Oginga as party leader following the death of Raila Odinga.

Speaking on Wednesday, January 21^st, Junet said the party could not afford a leadership vacuum.

“We were quick to install Oburu Odinga as party chair because ODM is a small Government.”

“You can’t leave it hanging; anything can happen. It is an institution that governs this country,” he remarked.

Junet dismissed concerns about Oburu’s age, noting that advanced years should not be viewed as a barrier to leadership.

“Oburu Odinga is just 82 years old; he can still be president.”

“In Zambia, Mutharika was elected at 85, and Paul Biya is 92, yet both are running their countries,” he said.

Reflecting on the 2022 elections, Junet denied misusing campaign funds and expressed frustration over Raila’s defeat, attributing it partly to the nature of support from the outgoing Government.

He argued that former President Uhuru Kenyatta’s involvement from State House weakened the campaign’s grassroots connection.

“I didn’t take agents’ money. Baba lost because Uhuru was campaigning for him from State House instead of engaging with people on the ground,” he added.

Junet further revealed that senior Government figures had privately warned him Raila would lose to William Ruto, lamenting that ODM’s campaign was too closely tied to the Government.

"There were senior people in Government who told me that in a contest between Raila and Ruto, Raila would lose, yet these were the very people we were relying on.”

“I just wish we had run that election without associating with the Government; it was just baggage that we carried," he noted.

Looking ahead, Junet confirmed ODM’s commitment to remain in the broad-based Government until 2027 while preparing for future alliances.

“ODM will be in a broad-based Government until 2027.”

“We have already started negotiations for 2027, beginning with UDA.”

“If we don’t reach an agreement, we will engage with other parties,” he stated.

The Kenyan DAILY POST