Suna East MP Junet Mohamed has issued a blunt warning to leaders within the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM), telling off internal critics to stop jostling for control of the party and instead form their own political outfits if they are dissatisfied.
Speaking during a public function, Junet, a close ally of ODM leader Raila Odinga, dismissed growing internal dissent, arguing that ODM’s leadership is not open to casual challenge. “Ukitaka kuwa party leader, enda tengeneza chama chako,” Junet said, drawing applause from supporters. Roughly translated, the remark means: If you want to be a party leader, go and form your own party.
His comments come as ODM faces mounting internal pressure over its political direction, particularly following Raila Odinga’s death and amid growing debate about cooperation with President William Ruto’s administration ahead of the 2027 General Election. Junet has in recent months openly leaned toward President Ruto and emerged as one of the strongest voices within ODM backing the broad-based government arrangement that has seen opposition figures work with the ruling coalition.
Junet, who also serves as the National Assembly Minority Leader, said ODM remains a disciplined party with clear structures that must be respected. He warned that public infighting and unchecked ambition risk weakening the party at a critical moment. “ODM is not a roadside kiosk where anyone walks in and starts issuing orders,” he said, insisting that leadership positions must be earned through party processes, not pressure campaigns or media statements.
The MP’s hardline stance has placed him at the center of a growing ideological split within ODM. While some leaders argue that engagement with President Ruto betrays the party’s opposition roots, Junet has defended the broad-based government, saying it allows ODM to influence policy, secure development, and protect its supporters’ interests from within.
“You don’t oppose for the sake of opposing,” Junet said, arguing that structured engagement with government should not be mistaken for political surrender. He maintained that ODM’s participation in national decision-making was strategic and necessary in a shifting political environment.
His remarks appeared directed at senior party figures who have questioned ODM’s closeness to State House and accused some leaders of sidelining dissenting voices. Critics warn that the party risks losing its identity if it drifts too close to the Kenya Kwanza administration.
ODM has long been shaped by the towering influence of Raila Odinga, whose leadership defined the party’s ideology and electoral strategy for nearly two decades. Since his death, unresolved questions around succession, internal democracy and future alliances have exposed fault lines among its senior ranks.
Political analysts say Junet’s warning reflects rising anxiety within ODM about fragmentation, especially as the 2027 elections draw closer. With pressure from younger leaders seeking space, veterans defending the status quo, and President Ruto courting bipartisan support, ODM finds itself at a crossroads.
