Sifuna Accuses Ruto Allies of Trying to Remove Him from ODM Leadership
Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna says allies of President William Ruto attempted to push him out of his role as Secretary General of the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM).
Speaking in Kisii County during a fundraising event for widows, Mr Sifuna claimed that discussions at the recent ODM@20 Founders’ Dinner in Mombasa included plans to “deal with” him. He questioned whether his position in the party was at risk, describing the move as politically driven.
Several Kenya Moja Alliance legislators attending the event, including Caleb Hamisi (Saboti), Obadiah Barongo (Bomachoge Borabu), Clive Gisairo (Kitutu Masaba), Anthony Kibagendi (Kitutu Chache South) and Gathoni wa Muchomba (Githunguri), also criticised the government, accusing it of failing to uphold commitments made under the cooperation framework between ODM and the United Democratic Alliance (UDA).
The comments followed ODM’s 20th anniversary celebrations at the Mama Ngina Waterfront in Mombasa, a three-day programme marking the party’s two decades in national politics and honouring its late leader, Raila Odinga. President Ruto, a founding member of ODM, attended the dinner, highlighting the complex relationship between the governing and opposition parties.
Mr Sifuna, a consistent critic of the administration, argued that the broad-based arrangement had not met its obligations. He cited ongoing reports of youth abductions and killings, saying these incidents continued in disregard of the agreement.
He added that he drafted the cooperation document and understood when its terms were being overlooked. Saboti MP Caleb Hamisi supported Mr Sifuna’s position, urging ODM members to avoid assuming that the broad-based deal would remain intact.
He suggested that only Raila Odinga and President Ruto knew the full details of the agreement, while other party figures were not directly involved. Drawing on previous political alliances, Mr Hamisi recalled Raila Odinga’s partnerships with former presidents Daniel Arap Moi, Mwai Kibaki and Uhuru Kenyatta, noting that each had ended before elections.
