The political chess game between the State House and the Odinga dynasty has reached a fever pitch. Firebrand lawyer Ndegwa Njiru has issued a public and passionate plea to Ida Odinga, the matriarch of the opposition, urging her to reject President William Ruto’s nomination as Kenya’s Ambassador to UNEP. His message is stark: this is not an honor; it is a trap.

In a blistering statement on X, Njiru peeled back the layers of diplomatic niceties to reveal what he sees as a cynical strategy by the President to decapitate the opposition leadership. By bringing Mama Ida into the government fold, Ruto is accused of attempting to neutralize the moral authority of the Jaramogi family, the "last line of defense" for Kenya’s progressive politics.

"Don't Bite the Bait"

"Dear Mama Ida, you are the mother of the nation. Don't bite the bait that the cunning and desperate Ruto has thrown to you," Njiru wrote. The lawyer’s language reflects a deep suspicion within the opposition base. They view the UNEP appointment not as a job offer, but as a "booby trap" designed to silence criticism and co-opt the Odinga legacy into the Kenya Kwanza machinery.

With the death of Raila Odinga in 2025 still fresh in the nation's psyche, the custody of his political capital is a matter of intense debate. Njiru argues that Ida and her daughter Winnie are the custodians of a sacred trust. Accepting a state appointment would be seen by many as a capitulation, a surrender of the very principles for which Raila fought and died.

• The "Sellout" List: Njiru did not hold back in identifying who Mama Ida should trust. He listed James Orengo, Edwin Sifuna, Babu Owino, Millie Odhiambo, Otiende Amollo, and Senator Onyonka as the only "safe" advisors. The implication is damning: everyone else in ODM has already been bought.
• The UNEP Gilded Cage: The UNEP role, while prestigious, would effectively gag Ida Odinga. Diplomats cannot criticize their host government. It is the perfect way to silence a powerful voice without using force.
• The Legacy Question: The Jaramogi legacy is built on resistance to authoritarianism. To serve the very regime that many in the base consider illegitimate would be a historical irony too bitter to swallow.

A Family Under Siege

The pressure on the Odinga family is immense. [...](asc_slot://start-slot-11)They are being courted and squeezed simultaneously. Njiru’s intervention is a desperate attempt to build a firewall around them. He understands that if Ida falls, the center cannot hold.

As the "Mother of the Nation" weighs her options, the eyes of millions are upon her. Will she choose the comfort of diplomatic immunity, or the cold, hard road of resistance? [...](asc_slot://start-slot-13)Ndegwa Njiru has made his case. The verdict now lies with Mama Ida.