In the wake of Raila Odinga’s defeat in the 2022 presidential election, many political analysts and supporters have been searching for the reasons behind the loss. Some blame internal party issues, while others point to external interference. MP Junet Mohammed has offered his own version of events, one that combines both strategic mistakes and alleged betrayal by political actors who were expected to support Raila.
Junet Mohammed is not a casual observer. He has been closely associated with Raila since he was 24 years old, and he has served in key leadership roles within ODM. He was Raila’s trusted ally and has publicly stated that he has spent his entire political life with the late leader. Given this long history, Junet’s explanation carries significant weight and gives insight into the internal thinking of the party during the 2022 election.
Why the Campaign Failed: State House Baggage and Hidden Opposition
One of the strongest arguments Junet makes is that the ODM campaign carried “baggage” from the government, a factor that weakened their efforts to win the election. He reveals that even those in government who were supposed to support Raila had already decided he would lose.
“There were senior people in government who told me that in a contest between Raila and Ruto, Raila would lose, yet these were the very people we were relying on. I just wish we had run that election without associating with the government; it was just baggage that we carried.”
Junet’s statement suggests that the ODM campaign was misled into believing it had strong backing from powerful government figures. However, the reality was that these same people were secretly doubtful and perhaps even hostile to Raila’s success. In his view, this “hidden opposition” was one of the biggest reasons for the loss.
He also criticized the way the government approached campaigning, claiming that the strategy was wrong. Junet argues that instead of building a strong grassroots campaign, the leadership relied on symbolic political support from the State House, which did not translate into votes.
“Baba lost the elections because people with surnames like yours didn’t vote for him, and also because Uhuru was campaigning for him from State House instead of engaging with people on the ground.”
This quote highlights Junet’s belief that the campaign was not sufficiently grounded in the realities of voter mobilization. It suggests that Raila’s defeat was not simply about popularity, but about the failure to engage with communities at the grassroots level and the overreliance on elite political maneuvering.
The Agent Money Controversy: Who is to Blame?
Another controversial aspect of the 2022 election was the issue of agent money. Junet has been directly accused by critics who believe he was responsible for the distribution of funds to election agents. In response, Junet has denied these claims and insisted that he never handled the money. He says the accusations are politically motivated because of his closeness to Raila.
“I have said on my socials where the money is and how the money was supposed to be handled through Safaricom with just a click of a button by a man called Patrick Mburu. I’m willing to share a bench with him to remind each other how things were to be done.”
Junet insists he is ready to face anyone who questions his role and is willing to explain the process publicly. He even names the person allegedly responsible for the transaction process, indicating he is confident in his innocence.
He also points out that the agent money issue is being used to blame him unfairly because he was the closest to Raila.
“Pesa za agents zikona Uhuru na Muhoho Kenyatta pamoja na mfanyakazi wao Patrick Mburu. My role was not to pay agents but to campaign for Raila and engage with the people. Didn’t you see me abusing people? People are blaming me simply because I was the closest to Baba.”
This is one of the most important quotes in his defense. It shows Junet’s belief that the blame is being shifted onto him to protect other powerful figures who may have been involved in the money management process. He insists that his responsibility was political mobilization, not financial management.
Despite the controversy, Junet remains confident that his political future remains strong. He believes his critics will not be able to defeat him in his constituency.
“God is the father of orphans, so I’m not worried about my political career. I will still win the Suna East seat as MP, mark my words.”
Junet also stresses that he cannot be blamed for losing Raila the election, because if he had failed, he would not have remained Raila’s trusted ally. Raila’s appointment of Junet to a leadership position in Parliament after the election is, according to Junet, proof of the trust between them.
“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.”
In his view, the loss was not a failure of loyalty or dedication, but a failure of strategy and political alliances. Junet believes that Raila’s defeat was caused by those who pretended to support him while secretly undermining him, and by the campaign’s inability to connect directly with the electorate.
In the end, Junet Mohammed’s explanation for Raila’s 2022 loss paints a picture of a campaign burdened by political hypocrisy and poor strategy. Whether the public agrees or not, his words remain a powerful reflection of the political tensions that shaped one of Kenya’s most controversial elections.