A storm is brewing in the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) following remarks by Secretary General Edwin Sifuna declaring the political truce between party leader Raila Odinga and President William Ruto as “dead.” The Nairobi Senator’s assertion, viewed as defiance to ODM’s evolving stance on government cooperation, has sparked fierce debate within the party.
Sifuna, who threatened to resign if the party backs Ruto in 2027, has drawn backlash from diehard ODM supporters and grassroots mobilisers. Critics accused him of betrayal and advancing personal political ambitions, with calls for his resignation trending on social media. However, the backlash has met an equally strong counterforce from prominent party leaders especially from the Luhya community.
Led by ODM Deputy Party Leader and Vihiga Senator Godfrey Osotsi, Luhya leaders have mounted a spirited defence of Sifuna. Osotsi even vowed to quit the party if Sifuna is pushed out. “If you say he should resign, I will also follow him,” he said.
Butere MP Tindi Mwale stressed that embracing a broad-based government does not mean silencing truth. “Sifuna did no wrong. We must be bold enough to point out mistakes in government,” he said.
Other Western leaders including Budalang’i MP Raphael Wanjala and Kakamega Deputy Governor Ayub Savula also rallied behind Sifuna, calling him “our star” and demanding that Raila protect him from attacks by some Luo Nyanza leaders. “ODM is not a Luo party,” Wanjala asserted.
Sifuna, while defending his stance, reaffirmed his loyalty to Raila and the party. He argued that intergenerational dialogue—a key plank in ODM’s political messaging—cannot thrive in an environment where dissent is punished.
Raila, who addressed the tensions at an ODM delegates’ meeting in Kakamega, backed Sifuna’s right to free expression. “Democracy is the core of this party,” Raila said. “We may disagree, but we must protect the right to speak.”
The episode reveals internal fault lines in ODM over its future political direction and underscores the rising influence of younger leaders like Sifuna in shaping the party’s trajectory.
