Suna East Member of Parliament Junet Mohamend has declared that ODM party leader Oburu Odinga is the only individual allowed to declare presidential candidacy on the party's ticket.
The vocal lawmaker spoke on Saturday after his sponsored football tournament, where he slammed unnamed party members who allegedly declared themselves fit for the presidency, noting that the party’s constitution does not allow anyone to position themselves to face President William Ruto in the next general election.
According to the lawmaker, the party members are still waiting for Oburu's confirmation on whether he can vie for the country's top seat or not.
"There are some people who are saying the ODM must have a presidential candidate, but according to the party's constitution, the only person who can vie for the presidency is the party leader, and he is the one who will tell us whether he will vie or not," Junet said in Migori on Saturday, December 27.
"This is a party of discipline; not everyone can stand up and say that they want to vie for the presidency. Oburu Odinga is the only person who is allowed by our constitution to run for the presidency. We should respect the party," he added.
Despite opposition from some party members towards its leadership, Junet maintained that he will be at the vanguard of defending Oburu, emphasising that this will be crucial in ensuring that the party remains intact.
The MP further reiterated that the party will take appropriate action against any member who is trying to form a 'coup' in the party.
Junet also alleged that the former President Uhuru Kenyatta is "paying some individuals in the party" to catalyse division and rally against the party's top leadership.
"There are some people in the party who are trying to make a coup in our party, and we will deal with them starting from January," Junet said.
" These people are being paid by the former President, called Uhuru Kenyatta, to set up the party, but we want to tell them that if you think Oburu has no one to defend him, you are wrong because we are here for him," he added.
On his hand, Oburu assured that he still has the strength to steer the party, and he shall not allow anyone to dismantle the solid reputation and legacy of former Prime Minister Raila Odinga had engineered for the party.
Oburu noted that the party will remain committed to the broad-based arrangement with President William Ruto, as per the wishes of his late brother.
"I'm not afraid to say that I will not allow myself to be shaken, I'm going to sit on the party leader seat of ODM squarely, and anybody who thinks that Oburu Odinga is about to die soon is seriously mistaken because I'm the same age as Trump of America," Oburu said.
