Former ODM Director of Political Strategy Wafula Buke claims Hon. Junet Mohamed’s ‘misconduct’ of blocking some Somalis who wanted to donate money to Raila Odinga ended up making him (Buke) a million shillings rich because he organized the meeting and the Somalis delivered their Ksh5 million to Raila, whereupon Raila gave him ksh1 million, and the same Somalis later again wired him over Ksh300,000 to thank him for setting up the meeting. In both instances Buke took the money.
Things I noted:
1. It is true Hon. Junet used to block people who were carrying cash to Raila. What people forget is that Jaramogi was a clean politician until someone took Kamlesh Pattni to him in the 1990s. The money he received from Pattni muddied his reputation as a clean alternative leader — a reputation Odinga had protected since 1960s.
2. Contrary to the claims that Junet blocked ALL access to Raila, Buke’s assertions reveal that there were still many avenues to reach Raila. Despite Junet’s blockade, Buke still was able to have the Somalis donate their money to Raila. Limiting access to Raila was Junet’s way of avoiding potential conflicts of interests. Those who didn’t see it this way never forgave Junet.
3. No free lunch. In politics there’s no free lunch. If you are taking someone’s money it means there’s something such a person would want in return. We wanted a clean leader to get to government but we were too quick to make it easy for him to be embroiled in potential corrupt influences. Makes no sense to me.
4. Junet is a broker but Wafula Buke is not. The people Buke took to Raila gave out money, and Buke gladly recieved a portion of the money. What is the definition of a broker? In ODM, brokers are always too quick to brand others as brokers. Remember also that the reason Buke was jailed by Moi was because he was accused of receiving money from Muammar Gaddafi.
5. Hon. Junet Mohamed was always right to limit access to Raila Odinga. There are those who hated him for that but that’s normal. Whenever Junet was unable to limit such access, that’s when nefarious players entered the game and spoiled everything.
6. Wafula Buke claims he was expelled from ODM for being “honest”. I never saw such honesty. I was a staff at Orange House when Buke was there as Director of Political Strategy. It is the same Raila Odinga who signed his interdiction from the party for gross incompetence, corruption and misconduct. Buke used to draw allowances every weekend for party activities which almost always were domiciled in Bungoma where he was putting up a motel.
7. Those fighting Hon. Junet were the jealous types who felt Junet’s role around Raila limited their access hence made it impossible for them to trade with Raila Odinga. Even some Luo MPs who met Raila every fortnight in DUOL always blamed Junet for limiting their access to him.
8. Hon. Junet Mohamed is a lubricant in ODM. The Suna East MP functions as the grease lubricating the many moving parts in ODM. Those targeting him are doing so because they know they cannot destroy ODM without destroying Hon. Junet Mohamed. It is Junet who stitches Coast, Western, Nyanza, North Eastern and Nairobi to form the big orange canvass.
9. Hon. Junet Mohamed said Uhuru duped Raila on the 2022 agents management matter. Uhuru pledged to bankroll the agents matter and never did. He released the money to his brother, Muhoho Kenyatta, and Muhoho kept the money. Released it with right hand, took it back with left hand. Uhuru and his party have not challenged the veracity of Junet’s assertions on this. Instead, he has unleashed the ODM Party Secretary General.
10. Hon. Junet Mohamed will destroy those attempting to destroy him. ODM cemetery is full of graveyards of those who attempted to destroy Junet. Hon. Junet does not start wars in ODM. He is always dragged into the war. Let’s see how this new war pans out.
