Junet, Joho Resurface After Missing Azimio's Anti-Ruto Rallies

Azimio la Umoja coalition party leader, Raila Odinga on Tuesday, February 7 met former Mombasa Governor Hassan Joho and Suna East Member of Parliament Junet Mohamed who resurfaced for the first time since the August 2022 general elections.

Speculations have been rife regarding the fond absence of Joho and Junet, who were even missing from the anti-President William Ruto rallies that are being spearheaded by Azimio dubbed people's consultative forums.

The ODM party stated that the purpose of their lunch meeting at a Nairobi hotel in the afternoon touched on the ongoing rallies, among the party matters placed as a priority by the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) party.

Also present was deputy party leader Wycliffe Oparanya, who was in comparison to Joho and Junet, a constant presence in the Azimio rallies.

"ODM Leader HE. Raila Odinga this afternoon held a consultative meeting with his deputies Hon. Wycliffe Oparanya and Hon. Hassan Ali Joho during which they discussed party matters and the ongoing People’s Consultative Forums being pushed by the Azimio la Umoja One Kenya Coalition. Also present was National Assembly Minority Whip Hon. Junet Mohammed." stated the ODM party which shared photos of the quartet on social media.

Odinga on his part also updated his followers about the meeting and dispelled any reports of a fallout within the coalition.

"Had a refreshing lunch with my brothers. Tuko Imara! (We are intact)," he wrote.

Questions were left hanging regarding Joho and Junet's absence despite their active role in the campaigns preceding the August 9 general elections.

After Raila lost the polls to Ruto, the duo had taken a back seat, which ignited speculations on where the two would go next.

The two had found themselves in the middle of murky waters after a section of Azimio members blamed them for the coalition's loss.

This was further compounded by some of the coalition members announcing plans to work with the ruling Kenya Kwanza administration, which unsettled Azimio as well as the ODM party.

On Tuesday, Lang'ata Member of Parliament Phelix Odiwuor alias Jalang'o was among nine Members of Parliament (MPs) from the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) who were invited to State House by President Ruto for a breakfast meeting.

However, ODM denounced the MPs who termed the move as a betrayal of the party's ideals at a time its leader announced that he would not recognize the legitimacy of the Ruto-led government.

The Head of State had in late January held a working breakfast at State House in Nairobi with Members of Parliament (MP) allied to the Jubilee Party, an affiliate of the Raila Odinga-led Azimio la Umoja coalition.

President William Ruto meets Nyanza leaders at State House on February 7, 2023. /PCS