VIDEO: Junet warns Oketch Salah over ODM shirts bearing Ruto's image

Junet Mohamed warns Oketch Salah over ODM shirts bearing Ruto’s image

Suna East MP Junet Mohamed has issued a sharp warning to Migori businessman Oketch Salah against printing ODM merchandise branded with President William Ruto’s image.

Speaking during the ODM Linda Ground tour in Tononoka, Mombasa, Junet turned his guns on Salah, who has recently styled himself as a key mobiliser within the party following the death of former Prime Minister Raila Odinga.

“Salah, hii mambo yako ya kutengeneza T-shirt ya president na ODM, uwache. Uwache kabisa. Tengeneza T-shirt ya ODM peke yake. Umesikia hio maneno?” Junet said.

“Ukifanya hio utakula kiboko mbaya sana!” he added, before inviting youth mobiliser Calvince Okoth, popularly known as Gaucho, to address the crowd.

Junet’s remarks come amid simmering tensions within the Orange Democratic Movement over Salah’s political posture.

Salah rose to prominence after Raila’s death in October 2025, frequently referring to himself as the late leader’s “adopted son” and claiming he was present during his final moments in India.

He has since positioned himself as a grassroots power broker, conducting high-profile tours and courting regional leaders despite holding no official party post.

He has, however, become a polarising figure after claiming to be the custodian of Raila’s “final political wishes.” Salah has insisted that Raila wanted ODM to back Ruto’s 2027 re-election bid, a stance that has drawn fierce resistance from sections of the party.

The row escalated in February 2026 when Salah organised an event at the KICC where attendees donned ODM merchandise emblazoned with Ruto’s portrait.

Party National Chairperson Gladys Wanga later disowned him, terming the event an unauthorised personal venture.

The Tononoka rally also echoed sentiments expressed by ODM Secretary General Edwin Sifuna during recent Linda Mwananchi tours, where he rallied supporters to defend the party’s identity and resist attempts to “hijack” its direction ahead of 2027.