ODM’s Oburu Odinga Defends Wandayi as Fuel Scandal Probe Continues

Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) Party Leader Oburu Odinga has come out strongly to defend Energy Cabinet Secretary Opiyo Wandayi, saying calls for his resignation over the ongoing oil import scandal are premature and unjustified at this stage.Speaking amid growing political pressure and public concern over the multi-billion-shilling fuel import saga, Oburu urged ODM leaders, party officials, and supporters to refrain from joining the chorus demanding Wandayi’s exit from office.

He emphasized that investigative agencies have not yet linked the Energy CS directly to the scandal, and therefore any calls for resignation before the conclusion of investigations would amount to rushing to judgment.According to Oburu, the matter remains under active investigation by the relevant state agencies, including the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI), and it is only fair to allow the process to run its course before assigning blame. He noted that no official report released so far has directly implicated Wandayi in wrongdoing.

The ODM leader further cautioned party members against taking positions that may appear to condemn one of their own before facts are fully established.

He said leaders should exercise restraint and allow institutions mandated to investigate corruption and procurement irregularities to complete their work independently.His remarks come at a time when the government is facing intense scrutiny over the controversial importation of fuel reportedly brought into the country outside the Government-to-Government (G-to-G) framework.

The scandal has triggered a national debate on accountability within the energy sector, with opposition figures and some civil society groups demanding resignations from senior officials.The controversy centers on the importation of a disputed fuel consignment valued at billions of shillings, which was allegedly allowed into the country despite concerns over procurement procedures and fuel quality standards.

During his appearance before the National Assembly Energy Committee, Wandayi defended himself, insisting that he had no role in approving the consignment and that he only became aware of the issue after it had already occurred.

Wandayi has also publicly dismissed calls for his resignation, maintaining that there is no reason for him to step aside while investigations are ongoing. He told lawmakers that once he became aware of the irregular shipment, he reported the matter to President William Ruto and steps were immediately taken to stop the next consignment and prevent the disputed fuel from reaching consumers.

2Oburu’s latest statement is expected to further stir political debate, especially as pressure continues to mount from sections of the opposition who insist that senior officials must take responsibility for the scandal.