The Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) has urged the public to exercise restraint as investigations continue into allegations surrounding the importation of substandard fuel, warning against what it described as attempts to unfairly target senior government officials linked to the matter.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, ODM leadership came out in defence of Energy and Petroleum Cabinet Secretary Opiyo Wandayi and his Trade and Investment counterpart Lee Kinyanjui, who have recently faced public scrutiny following concerns raised over the reported fuel scandal valued at approximately Ksh 4.8 billion.
ODM Party Leader Oburu Odinga cautioned against what he termed as “public lynching” of the two Cabinet Secretaries, arguing that they are not accounting officers directly responsible for financial management in their respective ministries. He noted that holding them individually liable at this stage risks derailing ongoing investigations and shifting attention away from the core issues under probe.
Oburu emphasized that due process must be allowed to take its course, stressing that public discourse should not interfere with formal investigative mechanisms already in motion. He further observed that politicizing the matter could undermine efforts to establish the truth behind the allegations.
“Attempts at public lynching of Cabinet Secretaries Lee Kinyanjui and Opiyo Wandayi, who are not accounting officers, as some leaders are attempting, will only derail the investigations and politicise the scam as we Kenyans are wont to do,” the statement read in part.
The ODM leadership’s remarks come at a time when pressure continues to mount on the government to address concerns raised by various stakeholders over the quality and integrity of imported fuel. The controversy has sparked debate among political leaders and members of the public, with calls for transparency and accountability in the energy sector.
At the same time, ODM maintained that the investigations should be allowed to proceed independently without interference or premature judgment. The party reiterated its support for institutional processes tasked with probing the matter, urging Kenyans to remain patient as authorities work to establish facts.
The development highlights the growing political sensitivity surrounding the fuel importation allegations, which have already drawn national attention and prompted scrutiny of officials linked to the energy and trade dockets. As the investigations continue, leaders across the political divide are expected to weigh in further on the matter in the coming days.
 has urged the public to exercise restraint as investigations continue into allegations surrounding the importation of substandard fuel, warning against what it described as attempts to unfairly target senior government officials linked to the matter.){kind=link}