The Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) has defended Energy CS Opiyo Wandayi and Trade CS Lee Kinyanjui against demands for their resignation following the KSh4.8 billion substandard fuel scandal, which led to arrests of senior officials earlier in the week. Party leader Oburu Odinga warned that public attacks could derail ongoing investigations.
In a statement on April 7, ODM leader Oburu Odinga cautioned against 'public lynching' of the cabinet secretaries, who are not accounting officers in the scandal. "Attempts at public lynching of cabinet secretaries Lee Kinyanjui and Opiyo Wandayi... will only derail the investigations and politicise the scam," the statement read.
This follows arrests on April 3 of former Petroleum PS Mohammed Liban, ex-EPRA DG Daniel Kiptoo, and former KPC MD Joe Sang, accused of manipulating data to procure substandard fuel outside government frameworks. CS Wandayi had previously assured the public on April 5 that the threat was contained, with a second shipment halted and funds recoverable.
ODM stressed impartial probes, aligning with the ODM-UDA anti-corruption agenda, and praised President Ruto's commitment. The party added that if investigations implicate the CSs, "there must be no sacred cows."
