"ODM Is A National Party" Junet Mohamed Insists
Suna East Member of Parliament Junet Mohamed has showered accolades on the Orange Democratic Movement [ODM], stressing that the party is pivotal to Kenya’s politics and that no government can succeed without its involvement.
Speaking at the Raila Odinga Stadium in Homabay on Wednesday, November 5, 2025, Junet described ODM as a truly national party, underlining its presence and influence across multiple counties.
He highlighted that the party currently governs Mombasa, Kilifi, Tana River, Turkana, Wajir, Busia, and Homa Bay counties, reflecting its broad-based reach and national character.
“I want to say that the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) is a national party. This party governs Mombasa County, Kilifi County, Tana River County, Turkana County, Wajir County in the North Eastern region, Busia County, and even Homa Bay,” he said.
Junet dismissed perceptions that ODM is similar to smaller, localised parties or briefcase formations that have emerged with the aim of being the party that forms government come the 2027 elections.
He stressed that all other parties, in comparison, are essentially village-level outfits that lack the capacity to shape a national government.
“Nobody should think that ODM is like those small local parties or briefcase parties that come together claiming they want to form the next government. No government can be formed in Kenya without ODM. All other parties are local,” he said.
The Suna East MP further cautioned against attempts to reduce ODM into a regional or tribal party.
According to Junet, anyone who seeks to confine the party’s influence to a specific region or ethnic base is effectively working against its founding principles and is considered the party’s greatest adversary.
“Raila left me the machine that will form the government, and anyone who wants ODM to become a regional or tribal party is the biggest enemy of ODM,” Junet added.
He lauded the late party leader Raila Odinga for building a machinery capable of forming governments and insisted that ODM must continue to uphold its national identity as envisioned by Odinga.
Junet affirmed that, come what may, ODM’s status as a national party would remain non-negotiable.
“We will never allow it. ODM must remain a national party just as Raila intended,” he said.
