Junet to Gachagua: Keep off ODM, we don’t need your advice

Suna East Member of Parliament Junet Mohamed/FILE

Suna East Member of Parliament Junet Mohamed has hit out at former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, warning him to keep off ODM matters amid growing debate over zoning arrangements ahead of the 2027 General Election.

Speaking in Kendu Bay, Homa Bay county, during a fundraising drive for the Muslim Cultural and Resource Centre, Junet dismissed Gachagua’s remarks on ODM’s internal strategy, saying the party does not need his advice.

“I recently heard someone called Rigathi saying ODM has started complaining… we do not want your advice, you are the worst person to advise ODM,” Junet said.

The MP defended ODM’s decision to work within the broad-based government, saying the party has no regrets and will continue to chart its own political direction.

Junet also insisted that ODM’s zoning arrangement would remain intact, warning against interference in the party’s strongholds.

“ODM has its own position. We cannot allow outsiders to dictate how we run our politics,” he said.

His remarks come days after Gachagua urged ODM to prioritise zoning in any potential pre-election agreement with UDA.

Speaking on April 10 at a burial in Laikipia county, Gachagua said zoning would be critical in safeguarding party interests and avoiding competition between allied candidates.

“ODM must be very clear that before they proceed on any agreement, they must agree on zoning. Areas predominantly dominated by ODM must be left to ODM,” he said.

Junet, however, questioned Gachagua’s authority to weigh in on ODM’s affairs, taking a swipe at his political experience.

“You have served only one term in Parliament and a short stint as Deputy President. What experience do you have to advise a party that has existed for over 20 years?” he posed.

The exchange highlights growing tensions around zoning, which has emerged as a key issue among leaders considering possible cooperation frameworks ahead of the 2027 polls.

Earlier, Homa Bay Governor Gladys Wanga had also cautioned Gachagua against commenting on ODM matters, saying the party is capable of managing its internal affairs and political strategy.

Within ODM, sections of elected leaders have backed zoning as a potential condition in any agreement, arguing it would help prevent competition between allied candidates in key regions.

Some have proposed a structured sharing formula, including a 50-50 arrangement in political positions, should a coalition be formed.

Zoning, a common feature in Kenya’s coalition politics, involves parties agreeing not to field candidates against each other in specific regions to avoid splitting votes.

The approach has been used in previous coalitions, including Jubilee and Nasa, where partners backed single candidates in certain areas to maximise electoral gains.

However, such arrangements have often faced resistance from local aspirants and shifting political loyalties on the ground.

The debate has gained momentum amid increased political activity in ODM strongholds, particularly in Nyanza, where UDA has recently expanded its presence with aspirants expressing interest in various seats.

Gachagua said clear zoning terms would be necessary to maintain party influence and avoid weakening party structures.

“If you open it up without clear terms, parties risk weakening their own structures,” he said.

But Junet maintained that ODM will not be dictated to, signalling that the party intends to handle its negotiations independently as political alignments begin to take shape ahead of the 2027 elections.