Suna East MP Junet Mohamed has raised a controversial claim, asserting that powerful forces within Kenya deliberately thwarted Raila Odinga’s bid for the presidency. Speaking on Citizen TV’s JKLive on January 21, 2026, Junet explained that Raila’s repeated losses in presidential elections were not mere coincidences but the result of systemic resistance from influential actors who have historically shaped Kenya’s electoral outcomes.
“Remember, up to Raila’s death, we were saying the servers should be opened. The people who normally make people president in Kenya did not want to make Raila president. That’s what I believe, without mentioning who’s who,” Junet stated during the interview, hinting at powerful figures behind the scenes.
Junet also reflected on Kenya’s broader political system, indicating that the resistance was not just about the political elite but also about voter behavior. He suggested that Raila’s defeat was not solely due to elite interference but also because of the voting patterns of the Kenyan public. “Many people voted for Baba, and also many people did not vote for him. Considering his credentials and his long service to this country, the last election should not have been contested. It should have been a 60-40 margin,” he remarked.
In his analysis, Junet pointed specifically to the Mt. Kenya region, suggesting that a slight increase in voter turnout from this key region could have altered the outcome. He stated, “If they had voted even 500,000 more, people with your name, today Baba would have died as the president,” in reference to the support Raila received from Kenyans of various ethnic groups.
Junet also criticized Raila’s political allies, particularly former President Uhuru Kenyatta, for not sufficiently mobilizing grassroots support. “Uhuru did not take Raila to the area to tell the people that this is a good man. He was campaigning from the State House, not directly in the field with the people,” Junet argued.
While the interview revealed Junet’s frustration with the political landscape, he dismissed claims that he played any role in Raila’s defeat or that he had betrayed ODM. He strongly denied accusations that he was an ODM mole. “I’m not an ODM mole. How can I be a mole in my own party, where I am a senior official with the responsibility to make sure the party succeeds?” Junet asserted.
The Suna East MP also addressed concerns about the handling of election funds, particularly funds meant for election agents. Junet mentioned that he had been transparent about how the funds were to be managed, even challenging those involved to account for the process. “I have said on my socials where the money is and how it was supposed to be handled through Safaricom with just a click of a button by a man called Patrick Mburu,” he added.
Despite the controversy surrounding ODM’s failed bid, Junet maintained that his continued close relationship with Raila, including his appointment as a leader in Parliament after the election, was a testament to their trust and commitment to the party’s cause. “I didn’t lose Raila the election, because if I did, we would not have remained friends,” Junet explained.
Reflecting on his long association with Raila Odinga, Junet said that his political journey had been intertwined with the ODM leader’s struggles. “I have spent my entire political life with him, having been associated with him since I was 24. He made me mayor and later an MP,” he concluded.
Junet’s remarks shed light on the internal and external factors that contributed to ODM’s challenging presidential bids and provided a rare glimpse into the frustrations within the party after another defeat.
