The Lower Eastern Times Opening The Third Eye
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Wiper party leader, Kalonzo Musyoka, has urged former Prime Minister Raila Odinga to publicly declare his stance on the relationship between his ODM party and the Kenya Kwanza government.
Musyoka emphasized that although ODM claims it has no partnership with President William Ruto’s administration, the appointment of former ODM members into the cabinet sends a conflicting message.
The four ODM allies appointed to the cabinet are John Mbadi (Finance), Opiyo Wandayi (Energy), Wycliffe Oparanya (Cooperatives), and Hassan Joho, along with Minority Leader in the National Assembly, Junet Mohamed, who have strongly defended the government despite holding opposition roles.
Raila Odinga has been quoted saying he helped Ruto and his party’s experts to reform the country, with Junet Mohamed declaring himself as the opposition leader in the National Assembly.
“Declare your position whether you are in government or opposition, following the handshake between Ruto and Raila and the appointment of some members to the cabinet. ODM cannot serve two masters. It must be either in government or opposition,” Musyoka said, hinting at a potential new alliance with like-minded leaders early next year.
The lack of clarity on ODM’s position has led to the party being compared to a bat, unsure whether it’s an animal or a bird, as it simultaneously claims to be part of the government while professing to be in the opposition.
ODM Secretary-General Edwin Sifuna maintains that the party is in the opposition, while analysts suggest it is aiming to retain leadership positions within the parliament. These remarks were made at the funeral of Gertrude Muthoni in Karurumo, Embu County, where opposition leaders criticized the government for delays in forming the new electoral commission.
The leaders threatened to lead nationwide protests against the government for delaying the establishment of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC). They told the government that Kenya must have a new IEBC by March 2025, or they would take to the streets to push for its formation. They warned that the lack of an IEBC could plunge the country into a constitutional crisis.
“If the government does not form the IEBC by March next year, we will lead Kenyans in protests against it,” Musyoka declared. The late Muthoni was the mother of investigative journalist, John Allan Namu.
Also present at the funeral were DAP-K leader Eugene Wamalwa, Jubilee Party Secretary-General Jeremiah Kioni, and former Kiambu Governor Ferdinand Waititu, who all warned that the delay in forming the electoral commission could affect the 2027 general election.
Wamalwa stated that the goal of forming the new alliance was to remove the corrupt regime in Kenya, fight corruption, and address controversial deals linked to the UDA administration.
Kioni dismissed claims by former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua that the Mount Kenya region owes Kalonzo a political debt for supporting the late President Mwai Kibaki. Kioni argued that political debt has fueled tribal politics, which has harmed the country’s social fabric.
“We reject being drawn back into politics of who owes who. What matters is transforming our country for the benefit of all Kenyans, not settling political debts,” Kioni said.
