Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna has sharply rebuffed calls by law professor Makau Mutua for him to resign as Secretary General of the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM). The exchange, which unfolded on social media, has further exposed simmering rifts within the party.
Mutua, a close ally of ODM leader Raila Odinga, argued that Sifuna was in an “untenable position” within the party, suggesting resignation would be the honorable way out. “My good learned friend and Senator Edwin Sifuna appears to be in an UNTENABLE position as SG of ODM Party. It seems to me that the honorable thing for him to do if he’s a man of principle is to resign his post, which rarely happens in Kenya, unless one is sacked,” Mutua wrote.
In a swift and scathing rebuttal, Sifuna accused Mutua of hypocrisy, referencing his recent appointment as principal coordinator of the government’s framework for compensating victims of recent protests. “You have the unenviable task of determining the value of the lives of the young people your new friends killed and compensating their families. One would imagine that crown to be so heavy as not to allow the wearer time for anything else, let alone worrying about the SG of ODM, who isn’t even your friend,” Sifuna shot back.
President William Ruto recently appointed Mutua to oversee the framework, which is expected to run for 120 days. Sifuna’s remarks underscored his view that Mutua’s role in government contradicts his position as a critic of ODM’s internal affairs.
The clash comes at a time when Sifuna’s position within ODM has been under scrutiny. His outspoken criticism of party decisions and his absence from a recent joint parliamentary group meeting have fueled speculation about tensions with the party’s leadership. Just this week, Sifuna accused governors of “misadvising” Raila Odinga on matters of devolution, remarks that unsettled party loyalists.
Despite calls for restraint and discipline within ODM, Sifuna has maintained his combative tone, positioning himself as an independent voice in the party’s ranks. Whether this stance strengthens his political profile or deepens the cracks within ODM remains to be seen.
