The Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) Party could be headed to serious divisions following its decision to summon National Assembly Minority Whip and Suna East lawmaker Junet Mohammed to explain why disciplinary action should not be taken against him for boycotting the party’s activities.

ODM Party Deputy Party Leader Hassan Joho yesterday dismissed the move, terming it unnecessary and uncalled for. The former Mombasa Governor who has taken a low profile and kept off all political activities aside chose social media to respond to his party following its decision to summon Junet.

“Completely unnecessary and uncalled for!” Joho wrote on his X page yesterday.

In a letter dated January 11 and addressed to Junet, the orange party gave him seven days to explain his absence from party meetings. The seven days elapsed on Thursday last week.

The party has accused the Azimio Secretary General and ODM Director of Campaigns and Parliamentary Affairs Secretary of continuous absence of its meetings and meetings of other critical organs including the Party Parliamentary Group, over the past one and half years.

Junet was a prominent figure in the Raila Odinga campaigns, serving as the Master of Ceremony during Azimio campaigns.

He, however, maintained a low profile after the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) declared William Ruto as the president-elect with Azimio filing a petition, which was eventually dismissed, at the Supreme Court.

Joho has also been missing from all ODM and Azimio meetings and activities and is yet to receive a letter inviting him to show reasons why a disciplinary action shouldn’t be taken against him.

He has in the past rubbished claims that he had hung his political hat after a series of no-shows during the opposition team’s anti-government protests and meetings of the opposition party.

He reiterated his firm support for Azimio chief Raila Odinga and his cause, intimating that he will now take over the baton of leading the anti-government protests after his full recovery.

Declined to speak

“I subscribe fully to the ideology of Raila Odinga…it must be known. I am Raila, and he is me. I have only been away because of health reasons,” he stated.

Most ODM lawmakers declined to speak over Junet’s fate. Rangwe MP Lilian Gogo said the summons is normal and is part of practices of the party. “It is normal for the party to write letters to its members over an issue here and there. There is not much need for worry over affairs of the party,” said Gogo.

Senior Political Commentator Javas Bigambo yesterday read malice in the party’s decision. According to him, the question should be asked on whether the party is trying to kick out Junet by using disciplinary action against him or if he is done with the party and wants to chart a different political path.

“I believe the action to have Junet summoned has Raila’s blessings.

This is a creative clandestine succession politics focusing on post- Raila being championed by ambitious politicians who could see Junet as a threat to their advancement politically,” said Javas.

Following Raila’s loss in the August 9 elections, his chief agent Saitabao Kanchory accused Joho over sabotaging everyone who wanted to see Raila clinch victory.

He claimed that the ODM party leader only listened to Junet. Kanchory who opened up on intrigues that led to Raila losing the presidential polls said he could not have lost had it not been for the actions of three individuals.