Opposition leader Kalonzo Musyoka on Saturday claimed that the four Cabinet Secretaries from Raila Odinga’s ODM took the top jobs without the ex-premier’s initial input, and before his desire for a national convention ahead of them taking up the slots.
According to Mr Musyoka, this happened at a time when President Ruto was under siege following the Gen Z protests that rocked the country in June 2024.
He claimed that ODM donated 'experts' to the broad-based government. He held a private meeting with Mr Odinga after a phone call to discuss the matter.
Mr Musyoka said Mr Odinga asked the President to appoint half of his Cabinet and then wait for a national convention, which would allow the Azimio la Umoja–One Kenya Coalition to propose names.
“Before the four nominees joined the government, we consulted with Baba (Mr Odinga). At this point, President Ruto was pleading with him to at least accept the four nominees first. However, Raila wanted a national convention. He told Ruto to form half the Cabinet, and when he returned from Dubai, we would agree and give him names from our side,” said Mr Musyoka in Ugunja, Siaya County.
Wiper party leader Kalonzo Musyoka.
Photo credit: Joseph Kanyi| Nation Media Group
He said this did not sit well with President Ruto, who reminded Mr Odinga that the proposal differed from what they had earlier agreed with National Assembly Minority Leader Junet Mohamed and former Cabinet Secretary Raphael Tuju.
Mr Musyoka further claimed that the four Cabinet secretaries—John Mbadi (National Treasury), Ali Hassan Joho (Mining and Blue Economy), Opiyo Wandayi (Energy and Petroleum), and Wycliffe Oparanya (Co-operatives and MSMEs)—accepted their appointments without first consulting Mr Odinga.
“This is the truth. Baba went to Dubai, and Ruto reached out to the four directly by phone. They accepted without Baba’s permission. We had agreed on a national convention first before giving the President our list as Azimio, because the country was on the verge of collapse,” said Mr Musyoka.
Mr Musyoka was speaking in Ugunja on Friday, where he was campaigning for Orodi Odhiambo, the Wiper candidate in this week’s Ugunja parliamentary by-election.
Mr Musyoka continued his charm offensive in Nyanza, returning to Mr Odinga’s Siaya stronghold not only to drum up support for the party candidate but also to seek backing for his own 2027 presidential bid.
He was accompanied by United Opposition leader Eugene Wamalwa of the Democratic Action Party–Kenya (DAP-K) and several Wiper leaders.
“There are people pretending to have been Mr Odinga’s best friends, yet they never liked him. They called him names like mganga . Today, they are pretending to have suffered from his demise,” he said.
Mr Musyoka also revisited an incident in which a vehicle carrying the late former Prime Minister was allegedly shot at several times.
“Had the vehicle not been armoured, that would have been the day we lost Mr Odinga,” he claimed.
“Let us unite and ensure that this Kenya Kwanza regime serves just one term. They have clearly failed to deliver what they promised Kenyans. Let us work together by electing Eng Orodi. This will be a thank-you to me as your long-time friend,” he said.
“I met Nyong’o and Orengo and reminded them of the journey we have walked. They must ensure that no one disrespects Raila in this region. I have only made the first step; I will be coming back,” he said.
Mr Musyoka urged Ugunja voters to return the favour he said he extended to the late former Prime Minister over the years. He made several stopovers to campaign for Mr Odhiambo, telling residents that a vote for the Wiper candidate would also boost his own political standing in Nyanza.
“Voting for Orodi as the next Ugunja MP will honour him and also honour me as someone who worked with Raila for years. Baba may be gone, but Baba mdogo is here. Support me,” he said.
He recounted the many times he stood with Mr Odinga—whether as running mate or as part of the opposition team seeking the presidency.
“Now that Baba is gone, let us unite in his honour and not allow those claiming to be his friends to destabilise the Nyanza region. We must reach Canaan—the promised land,” he said.
Mr Wamalwa said the former premier had many friends, but his closest was Mr Musyoka.
He said Mr Musyoka’s recent visit to Ida Odinga in Bondo, where he delivered 100 cows , surprised many leaders.
The DAP-K leader told Ugunja residents that Mr Musyoka stood with their leader for 15 years, including in 2022 when he was not Mr Odinga’s running mate.
“We are asking you to support us because we stood with you, not with others who stole Raila’s votes. As Western, we rallied behind him in numbers,” said Mr Wamalwa.
Senator Agnes Kavindu urged Ugunja voters to reciprocate the support Mr Musyoka has shown the Odinga family.
“A vote for Orodi is a vote for Kalonzo. Because Baba is gone, stand with Kalonzo—because that is what Raila would have wished,” she said.
“Vote for me on November 27, and then vote for Mr Musyoka in 2027 as the sixth President of Kenya,” he said.
The Ugunja parliamentary seat fell vacant after Mr Wandayi, the former Minority Leader, who served as the area MP, was appointed to the Cabinet.
The seat has attracted 11 candidates: Erick Ofiro (Jubilee Party), Vincent Olengo (Kenya Moja), Fredrick Ochiel (United Democratic Movement), Benson Obol (United Green Movement), Oliver Ochieng (National Liberal Party), Moses Omondi (ODM), Chrispine Oduor (Kanu), and Dr Maurice Okumu (Federal Party of Kenya), among others.
