ODM secretary general Edwin Sifuna is
increasingly painting a portrait of a man edging out of the Orange Democratic
Movement—whether by force or by choice.
Once a firebrand voice of the opposition and one
of Raila Odinga’s most loyal lieutenants, Sifuna now carries the air of a man
who no longer feels at home in the ODM fold.
His recent utterances, marked by blunt honesty
and flashes of defiance, have fueled speculation that his days at the party’s
helm are numbered.
Though he still wears the mantle of SG,
observers believe Sifuna is already halfway out the door politically and
emotionally.
“For any politician who wants political survival, they have to prepare to
leave if they are inside. I think Sifuna made the decision long time ago
because of the ground. He doesn’t want to be part of it if Raila still wants to
stay there – but I predict even Raila will leave,” political analyst Prof Gitile
Naituli said.
Sifuna’s blunt criticism of the broad-based government despite backing from
his boss and unapologetic scathing attack against President William Ruto have
not sat well with party’s oligarchs, who see him as waging an indirect war
against Raila.
Raila signed a memorandum of understanding with Ruto in March that saw top-ranking
members of the ODM party co-opted into Ruto’s broad-based government.
The cracks widened during a popular talk show on Citizen TV on Tuesday night,
where the ODM spokesman not only said the partnership with Ruto was hurting the
party but also threatened to disengage should the party back the President for reelection
in 2027.
In the late-night interview, Sifuna publicly declared that he would resign
as the SG should the party formally decide to support President Ruto’s
reelection.
“I have not yet resigned from the party as the SG because I still believe
there is some glimmer of hope, and my party will eventually see the merger as
untenable and will be back to defend and protect the people, the ground on
which the party was built," Sifuna said.
"If the party decides to go ahead with the merger in 2027, then I will
have no option but to resign as the SG."
He was responding to calls from the public to resign from the position if he
thinks that the merger between ODM and UDA was not for the public good.
He said the MoU they signed is “dead”.
Some party stalwarts however accuse him accusing of growing too big for his
boots and pursuing a political path that is now seen as veering off the ODM
script.
National Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi – one of the co-opted
ministers – fired back at Sifuna, terming his outbursts personal opinion which
does not reflect ODM’s position.
“Between the party leader and the secretary general, whose decision is
final?” posed Mbadi. “I am glad he clarified that those are his personal
opinions.”
The sentiments were echoed Makadara MP George Aladwa, who added that ODM
gets direction only from Raila and not anybody else “talking on TV.”
“That was his (Sifuna’s) opinion; we are guided by the directions given by
the party leader Raila Odinga. Those talking on television are allowed to talk.
We are not leaving the broad-based government,” Aladwa said.
“He (Sifuna) is my boss in the party, but as the chair of ODM in Nairobi I
am saying we are guided by the agreement signed at KICC.”
Some are even speculating that Sifuna could be eyeing a bigger role on the
national stage, possibly aligning with the nascent coalition led by former
Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua and Wiper boss Kalonzo Musyoka.
Yesterday, there was an uptick of online criticism targeting the Nairobi senator,
some of it orchestrated by shadowy forces within ODM.
Kileleshwa MCA Robert Alai said it was about time Sifuna crossed over to the United Opposition team. “Sifuna now the greatest supporter of Gachagua in ODM,”
Alai alleged. Sifuna has, however, maintained he is loyal to the Orange party.
