• Speaking in Samburu, Junet said all Kenyans pay taxes and those who want to work in government should be allowed to do so.
• He insisted that those who are not interested in working with government should also stick to politics like he has done.
Image: FILE
National Assembly Minority Whip Junet Mohamed has defended the appointment of ODM leaders into the Cabinet saying all Kenyans have a right to work in government.
Speaking in Samburu, Junet said all Kenyans pay taxes and those who want to work in government should be allowed to do so.
He insisted that those who are not interested in working with the government should also stick to politics as he has done.
"These are our taxes. Everyone in Kenya pays taxes and everyone has a right to work in government. We want everyone to feel like a Kenyan. Those who don't want to join the government should remain in politics and do it out here," Junet said.
"Those who want to work in government should be given a chance to work."
He was reacting to claims that the opposition party, the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) had been taken hostage by the Kenya Kwanza government.
The Suna East MP insisted that ODM will remain steadfast in keeping the government in check, despite some of its members joining President William Ruto's cabinet.
Last week, Ruto named ODM deputy party leaders Hassan Joho and Wycliffe Oparanya, as well as chairman John Mbadi and National Assembly minority leader Opiyo Wandayi as nominees to various Cabinet portfolios.
They will be vetted for the Mining docket, Cooperatives, National Treasury and Energy respectively.
According to Junet, these individuals are learned and have experience that can help get the country from the situation it is in, and thus the ODM party has no problem with that.
He said the President sought the party's assistance in running the country and that is what the party has done.
Junet, however, said that this does not mean ODM has joined the government.
He said the Orange party will continue with its opposition role.
"If they bring policies that will be bad for the people, as ODM we will reject."
Speaking last week, Junet said the vetting committee will grill the CS nominees thoroughly.
He said that as legislators they will do justice to Kenyans.
"This time, if somebody is not suitable, capable and doesn't have the capacity, we are going to throw them out. We must do justice to Kenyans. We must do our work properly this time," he said.