Opiyo Wandayi: I never dreamed of being CS, even under Raila presidency
By Mabonga Makhanu, September 25, 2025Energy Cabinet Secretary James Opiyo Wandayi has said that at no point in time did he ever imagine he would become a minister, not even under his party leader Raila Odinga’s presidency.
While speaking during an interview aired on a local TV station on Thursday, September 25, 2025, he explained that the position of Cabinet Secretary was never on his mind, but by God’s plan, it happened.
“I did not for any moment, any single moment, imagine that I would be appointed to the position of cabinet secretary, not even if Baba had been declared the president.”
He noted that it would have been very difficult for him to assume such a position, considering he had already been elected as a Member of Parliament and awarded a parliamentary leadership role as Leader of the Minority.
Wandayi added that he never expected President William Ruto to open his government and accommodate individuals from ODM or other parties outside the Kenya Kwanza coalition.
He emphasised that, as it stands, leaders must focus on serving one country, regardless of political affiliation, and that this should remain at the heart of every well-meaning Kenyan.
“Correct, it would have been very, very difficult, yes, for me to be appointed the cabinet secretary, considering the fact that I was already a member of parliament and, above all, a leader, a leader of the minority. Okay, but things happen because of God’s plans. I never, never knew that at one point in time, President William Ruto would open his government and accommodate persons from ODM or from other parties,” Wandayi stated.
Kalonzo’s take
This comes days after Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka, who revealed that the ODM experts that were appointed by President Ruto to his cabinet were approached by the president individually and not through Raila Odinga.
Kalonzo went further to intimate that after the 4 experts crossed over, the former prime minister followed suit since he was left with little to do.
According to Kalonzo, Raila then wanted all affiliate parties of Azimio la Umoja to all benefit by each contributing one member to cabinet, but he was forced to change his mind after his foot soldiers crossed over.