The Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) has said it will not defend Energy Cabinet Secretary Opiyo Wandayi if he is found culpable in the ongoing fuel importation scandal.
In a statement issued by ODM leader Oburu Odinga cautioned against what he termed as premature judgment, saying attempts to link Wandayi and Trade Cabinet Secretary Lee Kinyanjui to the scandal before the conclusion of investigations risk politicizing the matter.
However, he maintained that the party would not shield any official found responsible.
“Should professional investigations place responsibility on their actions, then there must be no sacred cows,” the statement read in part.
Oburu criticized what he described as “public lynching” of the two Cabinet Secretaries, noting that they are not accounting officers and warning that such actions could derail ongoing investigations.
At the same time, he emphasized that ODM holds a firm position that all public officials—regardless of rank or political affiliation—must be held accountable if implicated in corruption.
The Siaya Senator linked the anti-corruption stance to the broader reform agenda agreed between President William Ruto and the late Raila Odinga, noting that fighting graft remains a key pillar.
He also commended President Ruto for allowing investigations to proceed, including action against individuals from his own ethnic community, and urged that the process remains professional, transparent, and free from interference.
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ODM further expressed concern over what it termed as a growing culture of impunity, especially in a sector as critical as petroleum.
“At a time when Kenyans are grappling with a high cost of living, any abuse of the petroleum sector is both unacceptable and deeply offensive,” Oburu said.
The party also praised investigative agencies for moving swiftly, calling on the public to support efforts to root out corruption while urging political leaders to avoid exploiting the scandal for political gain.
The remarks come amid mounting pressure for Wandayi and Kinyanjui to step aside over the scandal, which is estimated to have cost taxpayers about KSh2 billion.
Authorities have already arrested several key figures, including former Petroleum Principal Secretary Mohamed Liban, Joe Sang, and former Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (EPRA) CEO Daniel Kiptoo.
Detectives from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) also recovered approximately KSh500 million following raids on properties linked to the suspects.
