Junet Mohamed Hits Back at Sifuna Over Broad-Based Government MPs

Suna East MP Junet Mohamed has publicly embraced the label “washenzi” after ODM Secretary General Edwin Sifuna criticised party members who support President William Ruto’s Broad-Based Government, deepening divisions within the Orange Democratic Movement.

The disagreement centres on ODM’s relationship with the current administration and differing views on whether the party should maintain a firm opposition role or work with the government. Sifuna’s remarks, made at the burial of former Lugari MP Cyrus Jirongo in Lumakanda, targeted leaders he accused of abandoning the party’s opposition principles.

During his address, Sifuna apologised to former President Uhuru Kenyatta on behalf of what he termed the “washenzi” in ODM, referring to leaders who, in his view, had disrespected Kenyatta despite his role in supporting Raila Odinga’s presidential bid. The statement was widely interpreted as a rebuke of ODM figures aligned with the government.

In response, Junet Mohamed sought to neutralise the criticism by reclaiming the term. In a post on X, he declared himself the spokesperson of a “Washenzi caucus” within ODM and named senior leaders he said shared his position, including Mining Cabinet Secretary Hassan Joho, Mombasa Governor Abdulswamad Shariff Nassir, and Homa Bay Governor Gladys Wanga. 

Homa Bay Town MP Peter Kaluma rejected Sifuna’s position and challenged him to leave ODM and join the United Opposition linked to former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua. Kaluma defended the Broad-Based Government, arguing that continued engagement was necessary to support development initiatives for constituents.

Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi also criticised Sifuna’s remarks, saying ODM should focus on economic growth rather than dismissing government-led projects. Mbadi said that the struggle for political freedom had largely been achieved and that the priority should now be improving livelihoods.

Lugari MP Nabii Nabwera supported this view, describing ODM’s cooperation with the administration as a strategic decision. He said opposition politics alone often fail to deliver development and urged leaders to consider practical outcomes. Mombasa Governor Abdulswamad Shariff Nassir added that coalition politics are a normal part of democratic systems and called for dialogue within the party rather than public condemnation.