Speaking during a political gathering at the Coast on Tuesday, Malala claimed Junet secretly maintained contact with Ruto at the height of the fiercely contested election, providing him with inside information that allegedly enabled the Kenya Kwanza candidate to outmanoeuvre Raila.
According to Malala, Junet — who was considered one of Raila’s most trusted allies — frequently held discreet meetings with Ruto and shared sensitive campaign plans.
“He would go at night and brief Ruto on everything Azimio was planning. We even had details of ODM agents across the country,” Malala alleged, describing the purported actions as a betrayal of trust.
Malala’s remarks add to a growing wave of accusations from leaders within the opposition camp who continue to dissect Raila’s narrow defeat in the 2022 presidential race.
Raila, who was making his fifth bid for the presidency, lost to Ruto by a margin of approximately 200,000 votes, according to official results.
The former Kakamega senator also appeared to back recent claims made by Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna, who accused Junet of misappropriating funds meant to facilitate and pay ODM polling agents during the election.
Sifuna, speaking at a funeral in the Mt Kenya region earlier this month, alleged that the mishandling of agent resources weakened Azimio’s vote protection mechanisms, contributing to Raila’s loss.
“Junet was closer to Raila than even his children,” Malala said.
The former Kakamega senator also appeared to back recent claims made by Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna, who accused Junet of misappropriating funds meant to facilitate and pay ODM polling agents during the election.
Sifuna, speaking at a funeral in the Mt Kenya region earlier this month, alleged that the mishandling of agent resources weakened Azimio’s vote protection mechanisms, contributing to Raila’s loss.
“Junet was closer to Raila than even his children,” Malala said.
“He was trusted with critical responsibilities, yet he is the one who made Raila lose elections.”
However, the accusations have drawn sharp rebuttals from leaders allied to the government, with Kapseret MP Oscar Sudi dismissing Malala’s claims as politically motivated fabrications.
Sudi insisted that Junet was never close to Ruto and had openly declared hostility toward the current president throughout the campaign period.
“If there is someone who swore never to work with Ruto, it is Junet Mohamed,” Sudi said.
However, the accusations have drawn sharp rebuttals from leaders allied to the government, with Kapseret MP Oscar Sudi dismissing Malala’s claims as politically motivated fabrications.
Sudi insisted that Junet was never close to Ruto and had openly declared hostility toward the current president throughout the campaign period.
“If there is someone who swore never to work with Ruto, it is Junet Mohamed,” Sudi said.
“He was one of Ruto’s fiercest critics. These claims are lies meant to score political points.”
Junet himself has previously rejected allegations that he mishandled agent funds, maintaining that the responsibility for coordinating Azimio polling agents lay outside his office.
In earlier statements, the Suna East MP said the agent programme was overseen by former president Uhuru Kenyatta, who had publicly backed Raila’s candidacy.
Junet himself has previously rejected allegations that he mishandled agent funds, maintaining that the responsibility for coordinating Azimio polling agents lay outside his office.
In earlier statements, the Suna East MP said the agent programme was overseen by former president Uhuru Kenyatta, who had publicly backed Raila’s candidacy.
Junet added that Uhuru delegated the management of agent resources to his younger brother, Muhoho Kenyatta.
According to Junet, breakdowns in coordination during the final stages of the election affected Azimio’s ability to secure its vote, but he denied any wrongdoing or personal involvement in the alleged mismanagement.
The fresh accusations reflect deeper divisions within the opposition as leaders continue to apportion blame more than three years after the tightly contested election.
According to Junet, breakdowns in coordination during the final stages of the election affected Azimio’s ability to secure its vote, but he denied any wrongdoing or personal involvement in the alleged mismanagement.
The fresh accusations reflect deeper divisions within the opposition as leaders continue to apportion blame more than three years after the tightly contested election.
Political analysts say the public exchange of accusations risks weakening ODM and its allies ahead of future political contests.
Raila’s defeat in 2022 came despite enjoying the backing of the then-ruling Jubilee administration, a factor that had led many to project him as the likely winner.
Raila’s defeat in 2022 came despite enjoying the backing of the then-ruling Jubilee administration, a factor that had led many to project him as the likely winner.
Ruto, making his first serious presidential attempt, went on to secure 7.1 million votes against Raila’s 6.9 million.
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