ODM MP Junet Mohamed has received major backlash after making controversial remarks that power will be centralized in Nyanza if his party’s presidential candidate Raila Odinga wins the upcoming election.
The lawmaker made the remarks during an event attended by several leaders including ODM leader Raila Odinga and Interior CS Fred Matiang’i.
Junet also jokingly told Health CS Mutahi Kagwe, who was also present at the event, that he will soon come to the region as a stranger once Raila rises to the helm of the country’s leadership.
“Mimi natoka hapa tu Migori. Sisi na Wakisii ni jamii moja. Sisi ni watu ya Nyanza. Baba akishinda, serikali ni yetu watu wa Nyanza. Sitaki hii watu wa gazeti waskie iyo, Mutahi Kagwe anaweza akakasirika. Lakini ata nyinyi mlikuwa nayo miaka ishirini na kadhalika sasa safari hii ni ya wa watu wa Nyanza. Mutahi utakuja apa kama mgeni.”
(If Raila wins in 2022, the government will be owned by the Nyanza people. I don’t want this to get to the media. I know Mutahi Kagwe and others will be upset, but it’s the truth. The Mt Kenya people and others have enjoyed power for more than 20 years. 2022 we shall have a government for the Nyanza locals. Mutahi you will soon be required to come back here as a visitor),” he said.
The statement by the ODM legislator has however not augured well with a faction of politicians, both from DP Ruto’s hustler nation camp and several Central Kenya leaders.
In his reaction, Kikuyu MP Kimani Ichungwa says that the remarks by Junet Mohamed clearly indicated that Raila’s quest for presidency is premised on the hunger for power and not to transform the economy.
“Good thing with my good friend Junet Mohamed is honesty while speaking. He says it as it is, It’s all about political POWER and NOTHING more for them. No plan No Vision No Agenda,” he said.
“It’s unfortunate that Junet Mohamed can publicly state that if Raila wins, then Nyanza will own the seat, and that Kikuyus and other tribes will only be guests in the government. This sense of entitlement and arrogance harbored by the ODM brigade is as high as that of its party leader. The Mt Kenya people are justified to worry about Odinga’s proximity to power,” says Joseph Kinoti from Meru.
“Being the daughter of Gikuyu and Mumbi that I am, I am worried, in who’s hands shall I be safe in Kenya following the statement by Junet Mohamed. In who’s hands shall I be safe?” says Wambui Wamgeci.
The remarks come a few days after the ODM Leader put up a spirited campaign in the Mt. Kenya region dubbed ‘Azimio la Umoja’, pledging to form an inclusive government after the 2022 polls.
“So after that utterence by Junet now what about Azimio La Umoja? Isn’t it a big lie?” says Martha Kamau.
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