This archive report was first published on 15 December 2019.
Junet Mohamed, the current Suna East MP, has been making waves in Kenyan politics. Born on October 25, 1977, in Migori Town, Junet is the son of Sheikh Nuh Mohamed.
He was first elected Suna East MP in 2013 and re-elected on August 8, 2017, becoming the first Kenyan Somali to be elected an MP in Nyanza.
Despite being an ethnic Somali, Mr. Junet has won the hearts of Suna East voters, where 95% of the population are Christians and Luos.
Junet started as a nominated councillor in 2003 and later became the mayor of Migori Town. He credits his track record as a mayor for his success in winning the parliamentary seat.
“I want to thank the people of Suna East for electing me; those people are very democratic because they elect you based on performance,” Mr. Mohamed said.
He added that his closeness to Raila Odinga, the ODM party boss, has been a key factor in his success. Mr. Mohamed has been a trusted lieutenant of Mr. Odinga for the last 21 years.
“My party leader knows everything about me politically; this is a person who has been with me throughout my life. He got hold of me when I had just finished school and I think that is why he trusts me,” he said.
Mr. Mohamed accompanied Mr. Odinga to Harambee House during the historic handshake with President Uhuru Kenyatta and was also the master of ceremonies at Bomas of Kenya, where the Building Bridges Initiative report was being unveiled.
He has been criticized for his handling of the event, but Mr. Mohamed says the criticism is just political and does not challenge his competence.
