Africa-Press – Kenya. Suna East Member of Parliament Junet Mohammed has urged leaders of the Kenya Kwanza coalition to hold substantive negotiations on seat allocations ahead of the 2027 general elections, warning that the coalition cannot take ODM’s support for granted without clear agreements.
Speaking in Lugari on Sunday, Junet emphasised the importance of ODM’s vote, noting that the party commands support across a wide swath of the country.
“Our vote is significant; we lead from the Coast to the Western region, Turkana, North Eastern, and Nairobi,” he said.
He highlighted that ODM’s influence was key in the broad-based arrangements that enabled several party leaders to secure powerful positions, particularly in the executive. This, he said, is despite the party not having endorsed the Kenya Kwanza government.
“Though we never voted for the Kenya Kwanza government, and they gave us six seats, if they want our votes as ODM in 2027, they must put seats on the table and clearly tell us how many seats we will get. People must sit down and talk,” the MP stated.
Junet defended the party’s internal cohesion, dismissing critics who claim that ODM is losing direction. He emphasised that the party remains strong and steady, reiterating its national outlook.
“ODM is a national party,” Junet said, stressing the party’s broad reach and consistent presence across the country.
While acknowledging the seats allocated to ODM in the current administration, Junet said the gesture, though appreciated, is insufficient to secure future support.
Junet also commended President William Ruto for providing ODM leaders with positions in his government and credited the administration for facilitating development in the party’s stronghold areas.
He noted that these appointments reflect acknowledgement of ODM’s national presence and its strategic importance in political alliances. The legislator has previously hailed the Orange Democratic Movement as the only political party in Kenya to successfully sustain its identity, structures, and national relevance for two decades.
He says the milestone underscores the party’s unmatched resilience and ideological consistency in the country’s turbulent political environment. Speaking during the party’s 20th anniversary celebrations, Junet said the occasion was not just a commemoration of longevity but a powerful reminder of ODM’s place as a cornerstone of Kenya’s democratic journey.
“These celebrations are very big,” he told the gathering filled with party leaders, supporters and members of the Odinga family.
“There’s no other party that has celebrated 20 years. It is only ODM. So my plea is that we give ODM the respect it deserves — and its founder, Baba. We must celebrate him and the party he built.”
