Suna East Member of Parliament Junet Mohamed, on Sunday, January 18, 2026, launched a sharp attack on ODM Secretary General Edwin Sifuna during the party’s Linda Ground county tour rally in Kakamega, exposing deepening divisions within the opposition party ahead of the 2027 elections.

Speaking to a large crowd, Junet accused Sifuna and other critics of sabotaging ODM’s efforts to gain political power by opposing talks with rival parties. He defended the party’s decision to pursue a broad-based alliance and dismissed calls for street protests, saying ODM must operate within the law.

Addressing supporters, Junet criticised party members who resist engagement with government-linked parties. He said some people panic whenever ODM moves closer to power and prefer confrontation instead of negotiations. He described ODM as a disciplined party guided by law and decisions made by its top leadership organs.

“Wengi wanataka tukae kwa barabara, wanataka tukae kwa streets wanataka tupigane. Wakiskia ODM imekaribia serikali, wanaanza kupata tumbojoto. Si mnawajua hawa. Mimi nataka kusema hivi, chama ya ODM ni chama ya nidhamu,” he said.

Junet said the party’s central committee had resolved to open talks with other parties, starting with President William Ruto’s United Democratic Alliance (UDA). He questioned why individual leaders felt entitled to oppose decisions made by the party’s highest organs, insisting that internal discipline must come first.

“Its a party of law and order. Na kamati kuu ya chama imekaa imesema wanataka kufanya mazungumzo na vyama vingine wakianza na chama cha UDA. Sasa wewe ni nani kupinga kamati kuu ya chama.”

He went further to argue that ODM exists to seek political power, not to operate like a charity organisation. Junet said the party was founded by Raila Odinga to form a government, not to distribute aid. He told those unhappy with that vision to pursue their own paths outside ODM.

“Sisi tunataka kama ODM tukuwe kwa serikali. chama ya ODM sio NGO ya kupigania relief food ya kufanya hii. Chama ya ODM ilipiganiwa na Baba to look for political power. “Kama wewe unataka kutengeneza NGO enda tengeneza NGO yako, wachia sisi chama chetu.”

ODM backs broad alliances

Junet also stressed that ODM intends to form alliances with parties rather than individuals. He rejected narrow or personalised political arrangements and said the party would only engage in what he called a broad-based process.

“Sisi tunataka tuungane na vyama vingine ili tutengeneze serikali ya 2027. Na tulisema hatuwezi ungana na mtu mmoja. Na pia hatutaungana na mtu yeyote ako na muungano ya nani? Kama wewe unataka kufanya mazungumzo na Wamunyoro, we fanya mazungumzo yako. Sisi pia tuwachiwe tufanye na watu ya broad based.”

As he concluded, Junet said he had tried to avoid personal attacks due to his age, but warned that continued insults from rivals could force him to respond more forcefully.

The speech highlighted growing rifts within ODM that have intensified since the death of party leader Raila Odinga last year. Sifuna recently accused Junet of mismanaging campaign funds provided by Kenyatta during the 2022 elections, claims Junet has firmly denied. He has instead accused Sifuna of advancing external interests within the party.

ODM leaders have called for unity in recent weeks, particularly during events marking Raila Odinga’s posthumous 81st birthday earlier this month. However, divisions remain unresolved.