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Junet: I have been associated with Raila since I was 24 years
21st January, 2026 10:32 PM
The National Assembly minority leader, Junet Mohamed, has described the former Prime Minister Raila Odinga as his mentor and the central figure in his political journey.
Speaking during an interview with a local TV station on Wednesday, January 21, 2026, the Suna East MP said he has been associated with Raila since he was 24 years old.
Junet noted that from a young age in Migori, he aligned himself with Raila’s political movement and remained loyal through different phases of the veteran opposition leader’s career.
“I was with Baba everywhere politically. I have spent my entire political life with him, having been associated with him since I was 24 years old,” Junet said.
He credited Raila for opening doors that enabled him to grow politically, recalling how Odinga appointed him as a mayor before later supporting his rise to Parliament.
Junet has since served three terms as a Member of Parliament, a journey he says would not have been possible without Raila’s mentorship and trust.
“He made me mayor and later an MP for three terms. Politically, he was my mentor,” Junet added.
The ODM stalwart described Raila as a leader who runs politics like an institution rather than a personal project.
“Raila was running an institution; he was not running a small thing. Everyone had a role in that institution, and I was playing mine,” he said.
ODM
This comes a day after he moved to dismiss claims of divisions within the party, insisting that the party remains united under its leader, Oburu Odinga. His remarks come amid differing ideological views among ODM party leaders.
In a statement shared on X on Tuesday, January 20, 2026, Junet described the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) Party as a structured organisation with clear internal processes that allow members to express their opinions while ultimately respecting collective decisions.
“There’s only one indivisible ODM Party led by party leader Oburu Odinga. The ODM party is well structured with properly functioning party organs. The ODM Party allows robust internal debate on a wide range of issues, with each member allowed to hold and air their opinions, and persuade other members to adopt their positions,” the statement read.
He clarified that while the party encourages debate and discussion, loyalty and adherence to party decisions remain fundamental principles expected of all members.
“However, once the relevant party organs have settled on a position, the party base expects that we all fall in line. This is what loyalty, fidelity, and faithfulness mean,” he wrote.
