Suna East MP Junet Mohammed in a past event in his constituency on April 29, 2024 [Caleb King’wara, Standard]
Suna East Member of Parliament Junet Mohammed has dismissed a new opposition alliance led by former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka, People’s Liberation Party leader Martha Karua and former Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i, calling the coalition a recycled outfit with no fresh ideas.
Speaking on Sunday during an interdenominational church service in Migori County attended by President William Ruto, Junet, who is the National Assembly Minority Leader, ridiculed the alliance’s unveiling as political theatre that offers nothing new to Kenyans.
“The photo we saw, they called ‘Odyssey of Hope, New Dawn,’ betrays them. What is new in those leaders? These are the same people we have struggled with and they never made a mark in the country. It is like comedy has returned to politics,” said Junet.
The alliance, which recently launched its campaign in Kisii County with a rallying cry of “Ruto Must Go,” has drawn criticism from Kenya Kwanza leaders who accuse it of recycling outdated slogans.
Junet said Matiang’i’s presidential bid was uninspiring.
“People had high expectations for Matiang’i’s declaration. Instead, he launched what we have heard for years, ‘Ruto Must Go.’ That slogan does not need a launch. Just grab a mic in Nairobi and shout it,” he added.
The legislator added that calls to remove sitting presidents have long been part of Kenya’s political noise.
“It has been around since I was in primary school, ‘Moi Must Go,’ then ‘Uhuru Must Go’ and guess what, they all finished their terms,” he noted.
He criticised the alliance for lacking a substantive agenda, warning that endless rallies and slogans would not address the real needs of Kenyans.
“You are forming alliances with no agenda for mama mboga or boda boda riders and your big idea is to shout someone out of office. That is not politics,” said Junet.
Reaffirming his loyalty to President Ruto and the Kenya Kwanza and ODM cooperation deal, Junet cautioned fellow ODM members against deviating from the coalition’s shared objectives.
“Some of our people in ODM think politics is about who shouts the loudest. Let me remind them, we signed ten agreements to bring Kenyans together. That is the script I am reading from. It seems they have their own MOU,” added Junet.
He urged political leaders to engage respectfully and prioritise national unity.
“We know where we stand and where we are going. Let us stay united. Kenya belongs to all of us, whether you are in government or opposition, do your job and do it with dignity,” said Junet.
The new alliance, which is positioning itself as an alternative in the 2027 elections, is expected to intensify its activities in the coming months.
Suna East MP Junet Mohammed in a past event in his constituency on April 29, 2024
[Caleb King’wara, Standard]
Suna East Member of Parliament Junet Mohammed has dismissed a
new opposition alliance
led by former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka, People’s Liberation Party leader Martha Karua and former Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i, calling the coalition a recycled outfit with no fresh ideas.
Speaking on Sunday during an interdenominational church service in Migori County attended by President William Ruto, Junet, who is the National Assembly Minority Leader, ridiculed the alliance’s unveiling as political theatre that offers nothing new to Kenyans.
“The photo we saw, they called ‘
Odyssey of Hope, New Dawn
,’ betrays them. What is new in those leaders? These are the same people we have struggled with and they never made a mark in the country. It is like comedy has returned to politics,” said Junet.
The alliance, which recently launched its campaign in Kisii County with a rallying cry of “Ruto Must Go,” has drawn criticism from Kenya Kwanza leaders who accuse it of recycling outdated slogans.
Junet said Matiang’i’s presidential bid was uninspiring.
“People had high expectations for Matiang’i’s declaration. Instead, he launched what we have heard for years, ‘Ruto Must Go.’ That slogan does not need a launch. Just grab a mic in Nairobi and shout it,” he added.
The legislator added that calls to remove sitting presidents have long been part of Kenya’s political noise.
“It has been around since I was in primary school, ‘Moi Must Go,’ then ‘Uhuru Must Go’ and guess what, they all finished their terms,” he noted.
He criticised the alliance for lacking a substantive agenda,
warning that endless rallies and slogans
would not address the real needs of Kenyans.
“You are forming alliances with no agenda for mama mboga or boda boda riders and your big idea is to shout someone out of office. That is not politics,” said Junet.
Reaffirming his loyalty to President Ruto and the Kenya Kwanza and ODM cooperation deal, Junet cautioned fellow ODM members against deviating from the coalition’s shared objectives.
“Some of our people in ODM think politics is about who shouts the loudest. Let me remind them, we signed ten agreements to bring Kenyans together. That is the script I am reading from. It seems they have their own MOU,” added Junet.
He urged political leaders to engage respectfully and prioritise national unity.
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“We know where we stand and where we are going. Let us stay united. Kenya belongs to all of us, whether you are in government or opposition, do your job and do it with dignity,” said Junet.
The new alliance, which is positioning itself as an alternative in the 2027 elections, is expected to intensify its activities in the coming months.
By Mike Kihaki