National Assembly Minority Leader Junet Mohamed has challenged the Azimio La Umoja Coalition Party to call for a joint Parliamentary Group of MPs in order to replace him as their leader.
Mr Mohamed dismissed the recent changes announced by Wiper party leader Kalonzo Musyoka that replaced him with Suba South MP Caroli Omondi to lead the Azimio Coalition Parliamentary Group in the National Assembly.
“I’m still the Secretary General of Azimio. Let no one lie to you that they have made any changes. There are people who are just talking and are not even aware how the coalition was formed,” Mr Mohamed told the Nation .
The Suna East lawmaker said if the coalition is serious about the changes announced, he challenged those who made them to call for a joint Parliament Group of MPs allied to Azimio coalition to replace him as the Minority leader.
“I want to challenge them that if they have the numbers, let them call for a meeting and replace me,” Mr Mohamed said.
Wiper party leader Kalonzo Musyoka addresses the congregation during a church service at Christian Dominion Ministries in Kasarani on December 7, 2025.
Photo credit: Billy Ogada | Nation Media Group
On Monday, March 10, Azimio Party Leader Kalonzo Musyoka, following a joint meeting of the governing bodies, including the Coalition Council and the National Coalition Executive Council, made several changes in the management of the political outfit.
“The Azimio La Umoja One Kenya Coalition Party today held a Joint Meeting of the Coalition Council and the National Coalition Executive Council and resolved that the following persons have, by virtue of their appointment to public office and/or having joined competing political coalitions, ceased to be members of the Azimio Coalition Council and the Azimio National Coalition Executive Council,” Mr Musyoka stated.
In the changes, also removed from the Azimio Coalition Council included Mining Cabinet Secretary Ali Hassan Joho, nominated MP Sabina Chege, Abdi Noor Omar Farah, and Mohammed.
The law only bars a Cabinet secretary from being an official of a party, but he or she can be a party member.
Article 77 (2) of the Constitution of Kenya states, "Any appointed state officer shall not hold office in a political party."
According to the statement, the Azimio coalition resolved that the individuals had forfeited their membership in the councils by virtue of their appointment to public office or having joined competing political coalitions.
Mr Musyoka said the affected leaders had ceased holding the positions after taking up public office or joining rival political formations.
He said the changes were necessary following recent political developments, including appointments to government positions and alignment with competing political coalitions.
Suna East MP and National Assembly Minority Leader Junet Mohamed during an interview in his office at Parliament Buildings on January 15, 2025.
Photo credit: Sila Kiplagat | Nation Media Group
Mr Mohamed said some MPs in the coalition are serving their first term and do not understand parliamentary procedures.
“’I’m still the minority leader and if anyone is in doubt, let them come to the office and confirm,” Mr Mohamed said.
Both the Minority Leaders’ and Whip positions were ring-fenced for ODM in the negotiations that followed the 2022 General Elections.
Mr Mohamed replaced Opiyo Wandayi in July 2024, following the nomination of the former Ugunja MP to be the Cabinet Secretary for Energy and Petroleum under the broad-based government arrangement between President William Ruto’s UDA and ODM
The leadership changes saw Suba North MP Millie Odhiambo taking over Mohamed’s previous Minority Whip position.
If the coalition wants to replace Mr Mohamed as the minority leader, it will have to present the speaker of the National Assembly with the minutes of the joint group meeting that approved the changes.
