Wanjigi meetings with aspirants rattle ODM

Businessman Jimi Wanjigi has caused apprehension in the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) after he held a series of meetings with some aspirants said to be eyeing to unseat some allies of party leader Raila Odinga.

The reclusive businessman is now being accused of targeting to dislodge some of Raila’s longtime diehard backers in 2022.

Wanjigi, who was a key financier of Raila in the 2017 and has declared to vie for the presidency on an ODM ticket, is reported to have begun an onslaught against the opposition leader’s men, with his first targeted being National Assembly Minority Whip Junet Mohammed.

The businessman is said to have hosted Migori politician Amimo Adongo yesterday. Adongo has declared interest in the Suna East parliamentary seat currently being held by Junet.

Adongo has reportedly disparaged Junet, accusing him of being an absentee lawmaker.

“I am committed to re-energising the party across the country as we head to the primaries later in the year.

This was a very fruitful engagement,” Wanjigi said after meeting Adongo.

“I cannot waste time discussing none issues. Those are briefcase-carrying politicians. Nobody knows him in Migori,” said Junet. Mbadi dismissed the declaration by Wanjigi to vie for the country’s top seat on ODM ticket, advising him to start by being committed to the party first, before going for the presidency.

“We even don’t know where he has been after the 2017 General Election. We also just learnt through the media that he wants to contest for the presidency on an ODM ticket.

"That is fine yes because he has the constitutional right, but he should first show his commitment to the party,” Mbadi said.

Mbadi, the Minority Leader in the National Assembly, also disclosed that the ODM fraternity is in the dark over Wanjigi’s real mission.