Suna East MP Junet Mohamed has defended his role in Raila Odinga’s 2022 presidential campaign, rejecting claims that he contributed to the former prime minister’s defeat.
Junet argued that the election outcome was influenced by powerful individuals whose actions outweighed any grassroots effort.
In a Wednesday interview with Citizen TV, Junet said he focused entirely on rally attendance and coordinating campaign activities in the field, not on managing offices or campaign finances. He described suggestions that he could have changed the election result as misplaced and unfair.
“There are powerful people in this government who told me openly that in a run between Raila and Ruto, Ruto would win. These people had the power to make Raila president, but they didn’t,” Junet said, adding that he believes they never truly wanted Raila to win.
The Minority Leader said some influential figures appeared unconcerned about the election result, creating an environment where the outcome depended on more than campaign mobilisation.
“If they wanted Baba to be president, he would have been president. I can tell you that,” he said.
Junet emphasised that his relationship with Raila remained strong even after the polls, highlighting his appointment to a leadership role in Parliament as evidence of continued trust.
“I didn’t lose Raila the election, because if I did, we would not have remained friends. After the election, he appointed me a leader in Parliament; that is the faith and confidence he had in me even after the election.”
According to Junet, the election was shaped by multiple factors and the contributions of other leaders in Raila’s inner circle, including Siaya Governor James Orengo.
“Raila was running an institution, not a small operation. Everyone had a role in that institution, and I was playing my role,” he said.
Junet also addressed allegations that he mismanaged Sh500 million intended for campaign agents, saying he had provided full transparency on social media and awaited responses from the parties involved.
“I have given a very thorough communication on that matter, still posted on my social media accounts. I have said where the money is and how it was supposed to be paid through Safaricom by a man called Patrick Mburu. All those people are still alive, and no one has responded to me. I am willing to share with everybody so we can remind each other how things were to be done,” he said.
He rejected accusations that he benefited personally from the funds, calling them politically motivated attacks from critics unhappy with his closeness to Raila Odinga.
“Political scores are being settled now that Baba is gone. People will say anything they want, but my role was to organise campaigns in the field. I was in every village with him. I was not in the office managing agents,” Junet said.
Junet described his role during the campaign as hands-on, accompanying Raila to rallies across the country, including dangerous locations like Eldoret, where their helicopter almost crashed.
“I played a role in his campaign, especially at the rallies. I was not a secretariat person. I was with Baba in every village he visited during the last election, every single day. Even in Eldoret, when our helicopter almost crashed, I was there. My role was to organise campaigns on the ground and ensure rallies were successful.”
He explained that these responsibilities left little time for office-based administrative tasks such as handling agents or campaign funds.
“How do you expect me to do secretarial work when I was waking up every morning with him, going to every place to make sure the rallies went well?” Junet said.
The MP reiterated that some powerful figures opposed Raila’s presidency, which he believes was a major factor in the loss.
“Up to today, we were saying the servers should be opened, and the people who normally make presidents in Kenya did not want to make Raila president. That is what I believe myself, without mentioning who is who,” he said.
Junet concluded that these behind-the-scenes forces outweighed even Raila’s political record and popularity, ultimately shaping the narrow and contested outcome of the election.
