Energy and Petroleum Cabinet Secretary Opiyo Wandayi has vigorously rejected the critics of the sweeping government, calling them “noise makers,” and asserting that they were not stakeholders in the negotiations that led to the inclusion of the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) in President William Ruto’s administration.
Wandayi’s statements were made during the interdenominational prayers organized at his home in Ugunja, where he defended the coalition arrangement and made attempts to quiet the internal dissent.Wandayi pointed out that a very small group of leaders, composed of himself and Senator Dr. Oburu Odinga, were the ones who carried out the negotiations that led to ODM acquiring multiple cabinet slots and principal secretary positions even though the party had not voted in favor of the current government.
He asserted that the critics, who are now expressing their grievances, were not present at the time of those negotiations and thus are not in a position to question the deal.“For the ones who are making noise out there, some of them I really wonder.
They were not there when we were making this broad-based government. It was not more than five of us,” Wandayi said, emphasizing that the negotiations were very carefully and trustfully conducted among a very small group.He also praised the late ODM leader, saying that his negotiation skills were great and thus the arrangement helped guarantee inclusivity and fair regional distribution of the power.
Wandayi further stated that ODM is contemplating entering into a pre-election coalition agreement with the ruling Kenya Kwanza camp in a structured manner as the country moves closer to the 2027 general election, insisting that the future conversations need to be based on mutual give-and-take.
“Your noise is out of place. When the time arrives, he will guide us in the right way,” Wandayi said, showing trust in Senator Oburu Odinga to take charge of future negotiations. He urged ODM legislators to act politically maturely, recognize the existing political circumstances, and acknowledge
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