Energy and Petroleum Cabinet Secretary Opiyo Wandayi has admitted that he never dreamed of becoming a minister, not even under Raila Odinga’s presidency. Speaking during a television interview, he said his appointment was purely by God’s plan, not personal ambition.
Wandayi revealed that at no point did he imagine serving as Cabinet Secretary. He stressed that even if Raila had clinched the presidency, he would not have expected such a position, as his focus was entirely on parliamentary leadership duties.
The CS explained that he was already deeply engaged as a Member of Parliament and Leader of the Minority, roles that carried great responsibility. According to him, balancing such positions with a cabinet role would have been unrealistic.
During the interview, Wandayi maintained that his current position came as a surprise. He emphasized that leadership journeys are often unpredictable, shaped not by personal planning but by circumstances, opportunities, and what he described as God’s timing for his political path.
He further acknowledged that he never foresaw President William Ruto opening his government to include members of ODM or other opposition parties. His appointment, he said, signified an unexpected shift in Kenya’s political landscape and cross-party collaboration.
Wandayi urged leaders to prioritize national unity, stressing that political differences should never override service to the people. He reminded Kenyans that beyond party affiliations, what matters most is commitment to advancing the welfare and progress of one nation.
His comments came days after Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka disclosed that ODM technocrats in Ruto’s cabinet were handpicked individually by the President, not through Raila. Kalonzo revealed that Ruto bypassed Azimio structures, reaching out to key experts personally.
Kalonzo further suggested that Raila was left with limited options once some of his trusted allies accepted cabinet appointments. He noted that Raila later sought to involve affiliate parties in Azimio, hoping each would benefit by contributing nominees to government.
According to Kalonzo, Raila eventually softened his stance after his close allies crossed over. This shift, he argued, left Raila with little room to resist, paving the way for broader Azimio participation in Ruto’s government despite initial reluctance.
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