Junet Mohamed Says Gachagua's 'Hate' for Ruto Won't Make ODM Desert Him: "Sisi Tunamaliza Tu Safari"
- Junet Mohamed dismissed Rigathi Gachagua’s pressure, insisting ODM has no regrets backing President William Ruto
- The MP said those who elected Ruto are now crying the loudest, ODM is just helping them finish what they started
- He defended ODM’s cooperation with the government as a push for long-denied development, not blind loyalty or political survival
Didacus Malowa, a journalist at TUKO.co.ke, brings over three years of experience covering politics and current affairs in Kenya.
Suna East MP Junet Mohamed has dismissed growing pressure from former deputy president Rigathi Gachagua, saying ODM has no plans to abandon President William Ruto.
Source: Facebook
Speaking on Friday, July 11, during the burial of MP Peter Masara’s son in Migori, National Assembly Minority Leader made it clear that ODM is in government to stay, at least for now.
The lawmaker drew a clear line between ODM’s strategic cooperation with Ruto and the noisy fallout between Gachagua and his former boss.
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Junet stated that it was an irony that those who voted for Ruto's presidency were the ones fighting to have him out, adding that ODM was just helping them finish what they started.
"Those who voted for Ruto are the ones now criticising him, not us. We are simply completing the journey. Aren’t they the ones who started it? We’ve said we will support the boss until the end," the MP argued.
The outspoken MP also took a swipe at those disillusioned with Ruto’s leadership, reminding them of the choices made during the 2022 General Election.
"You know very well who elected this government. They are the ones crying now, and I don’t understand why. Back in 2022, when we told them we had a candidate, they refused to listen. Now we are on top and we’re not going back down," he added.
Why did ODM get into a deal with Ruto?
Junet’s comments come amid heightened political tension in Mt Kenya, where Gachagua has accused Ruto of sidelining the region and is attempting to rally the bloc under him.
He made it clear that ODM’s alignment with the government is not about personalities but about ensuring their constituents receive development long denied to them.
Source: Facebook
He said the party is focused on securing tangible benefits like roads, clean water, electricity, and equal treatment in national projects.
"We are part of a broad-based coalition; we want roads built in our areas, clean water supplied, electricity extended, and to receive the same development the rest of Kenyans have enjoyed over the past sixty years," the MP, a close confidant of ODM leader Raila Odinga, claimed.
But Junet warned Gachagua against dragging the rest of the country into what he called regional power struggles driven by bitterness.
"Gachagua, if you want to be the president of Mt Kenya, go and campaign there and leave the rest of the country alone. Because every time you open your mouth, all you talk about is ‘my community’. Don’t bring that kind of nonsense here," Junet said bluntly.
He cautioned political players eyeing the presidency in 2027 to wait for the official campaign period and refrain from sowing discord.
Is ODM in the Kenya Kwanza government?
As earlier reported, Raila affirmed that, despite the memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Ruto’s UDA, his party remains in opposition, not in government.
He likened the relationship to the US system, where presidents sometimes appoint officials from the opposing party, without forming a coalition.
Raila clarified the pact covers only a shared ten-point agenda, without granting ODM formal power.
Proofreading by Asher Omondi, copy editor at TUKO.co.ke.
Source: TUKO.co.ke
