National Assembly Minority Whip Junet Mohamed has finally let the cat out of the bag, openly revealing what the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) has long wanted from its engagement with President William Ruto’s government.
Speaking during an ODM condolence visit at the home of the late former Lugari MP Cyrus Jirongo on December 21, Junet – one of the politicians closest to the late ODM leader Raila Odinga – made it clear that any cooperation with President Ruto must come with clear, negotiated benefits. According to Junet, ODM cannot offer its political support for free.
“If they want ODM votes, they must put positions on the table and tell us exactly how many we are getting,” Junet said, bluntly dismissing calls for the party to work with the President without conditions.
In remarks that many interpreted as a rare public admission of Raila Odinga’s long-held stance, Junet said ODM’s engagement with Ruto’s administration was always meant to be transactional, anchored on power-sharing, development, and policy implementation – not blind loyalty.
He pushed back against voices within ODM who have cautioned against what they term political blackmail, insisting the party will issue firm demands during coalition talks. Despite acknowledging that ODM already holds several Cabinet positions under the broad-based government and has benefited from development projects in its strongholds, Junet said that was not enough.
Claiming ODM remains the country’s largest political party and a key vote bloc ahead of 2027, Junet argued the party deserves a bigger slice of government.
However, he ruled out a return to the opposition, saying ODM will remain in the broad-based arrangement – but only on “clear terms.” He added that the party expects President Ruto to fully implement the 10-point agenda agreed upon in the UDA-ODM Memorandum of Understanding.