Caleb Amisi slams Opiyo Wandayi over Raila leaving Nyanza in govt remarks
Saboti Member of Parliament (MP) Caleb Amisi has criticised Energy Cabinet Secretary Opiyo Wandayi for saying that Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) party leader the late Raila Odinga left the Nyanza people in government.
In a statement on Saturday, October 18, 2025, Amisi termed the remarks inappropriate during a time of mourning, saying it was not proper for politicians to use the funeral period to air grievances about political appointments or power positions.
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“It is not proper for some ODM leaders to come to Baba’s funeral crying that Raila left Nyanza people in the government. Let us mourn first, then tell us where he left you,” Amisi said.
Furthermore, he questioned the sincerity of those raising such complaints, suggesting that their loyalty to Raila was driven by political gain rather than genuine support.
“They are here, Baba! They never loved you; they loved government instead. Baba, give us a signal; they are crying louder than us.”
Wandayi’s remarks
His remarks come shortly after Wandayi reaffirmed ODM’s commitment to working with President William Ruto’s administration, saying the party will continue standing with the government “till the end and beyond 2027.”
Speaking at Raila Odinga’s rural home in Bondo, Siaya County, on October 17, 2025, where preparations for his burial were underway after the state funeral at Nyayo Stadium in Nairobi, Wandayi said the late ODM leader left his followers in Ruto’s broad-based government.
“I want to affirm that Baba has left us as a people in a government led by President Ruto, and that is where we are going to stay till the end. I can dare say with no fear of contradiction that we shall walk step by step with President Ruto to the end, now and beyond 2027,” Wandayi stated.
The CS, who is a long-serving member of ODM, also praised the party’s decision to appoint Siaya Senator Oburu Oginga as acting party leader, describing it as “wise and timely.
“I want to remove any doubt whatsoever from whosoever’s mind that this region is going to remain intact within ODM and is going to get leadership and direction from the party leader, Oburu,” he said.
Wandayi further thanked President Ruto for according the late former Prime Minister a state funeral, noting that even Kenya’s first Vice President, Jaramogi Oginga Odinga, was not given such recognition after he died in 1994.
“I want to thank the President in a very big way for making a proclamation to accord Raila Odinga a state funeral, with full military honours, because he has simply used his discretion as the Commander-in-Chief. Even Jaramogi Oginga, who was the first Vice President, was never accorded such,” he said.
