Junet Mohamed: From a Former Mayor to Raila’s “Mr Fix-it”

Junet Mohamed is the current member of Parliament for Suna East and the immediate former leader of minority in the National Assembly.

Family

Junet’s father is Sheikh Nuh Mohammed who is originally from Mandera County but later moved to Migori, where he started a wholesale business in the 1970s.

The legislator was born in the South Nyanza town on October 25, 1977. He is the second born in a family of nine.

He is married to Deka Jamaa with whom he shares five children.

Education

The MP attended Migori Primary before proceeding to Lenana School in Nairobi and eventually University of Nairobi where he pursued a Bachelor of Business Administration degree.

Political Career

The MP’s political career began to take off in 2002, when, at the youthful age of 23, he shattered the ceiling and was nominated as a councilor by the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) party.

His strong involvement in the 2002 general election when he oversaw grassroot campaigns catalyzed his political career.

He actively campaigned for Charles Owino Likowa, during constituency contests in Migori, as it was then known (now divided into Suna East and Suna West).

Later, Junet and his ally Okwanyo were nominated to the Migori County Council. He had then met Raila Odinga through Likowa, who had also suggested that he be nominated on a Narc ticket.

After being nominated as a councilor by ODM once more in 2007, he went on to hold the mayoral position until 2012.

In May 2012, Junet sought to join the East African Community Legislative Assembly, but was unsuccessful. He came in sixth while ODM had only fives slots.

Now, the Suna East MP is receiving backlash after Raila lost the presidency for a fifth time.

Junet was the former prime minister’s “Mr Fix-it” during the campaign period, elbowing Luo Nyanza leaders from Raila’s inner circle.

He has been accused of squandering campaign money eventually leading to Raila’s loss to President William Ruto who in 2007 belonged to ODM.