By The Weekly Vision Reporter
Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) Secretary General Edwin Sifuna’s decision to align with party hardliners and support the position that the ODM remains part of the broad-based government formed by President William Ruto and the late Raila Odinga until 2027 has averted a looming implosion within the party’s top leadership.
Before joining other ODM leaders on Monday, 27th, to announce a unified stand, Sifuna had been among the most vocal opponents of the 10-point agenda contained in the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between ODM and the United Democratic Alliance (UDA).
His stance had been emboldened by Raila’s earlier declaration that there was no assurance ODM would support President Ruto’s re-election bid, and that the party could field its own presidential candidate in 2027. “So, wherever you are, don’t commit the party to things that have not been discussed. Let those things be discussed first. We are ODM. Who has told you that ODM will not have a candidate in 2027? Who has told you?” Raila posed on 23rd September.
Despite strong backing for the MoU from former ODM leaders now serving in Cabinet, Hassan Joho (Mining and Maritime Affairs), Opiyo Wandayi (Energy and Petroleum), and John Mbadi (National Treasury and Planning), as well as national chairperson Gladys Wanga, Sifuna initially held out.
However, during a meeting in Nairobi chaired by interim party leader Dr Oburu Oginga, the party’s Central Management Committee reaffirmed ODM’s commitment to remain part of the broad-based government until 2027, a relationship guided by the 10-point agenda established for the sake of peace and national stability. “As the top leadership of this party, we shall pursue all the causes he (Raila) dedicated his life to, doing everything within our power to uphold unity and apply lessons learnt from our departed leader and comrade. We reiterate the commitment of the Party to the broad-based government until 2027, a relationship guided by the ten-point agenda entered into for the sake of peace and stability of the country,” said Sifuna after the meeting.
During Raila Odinga’s funeral at the Jaramogi Oginga Odinga University of Science and Technology in Bondo, the Cabinet Secretaries and Governor Wanga reaffirmed ODM’s position. “Raila showed us before he died that he wanted us to remain in government as a community and as a party. We will continue to be in the broad-based government,” said Mbadi.
Joho echoed the sentiment: “I have never betrayed Raila and I cannot be anywhere he has not taken me. I was taken to the government of William Ruto by Raila Odinga. That is where I shall stay.”
Wanga also affirmed that remaining in the broad-based government was Raila’s wish for the sake of national unity.
During the funeral service, President William Ruto, a founding member and former deputy leader of ODM, vowed to protect the party from fragmentation. “The thing I cannot accept, in honour of this hero of ours, and I will do everything possible, may God help me, is to block those who want to uproot ODM and play the opposition card. That will not be possible,” Ruto said.
Sifuna had previously taken a divergent stand, insisting that ODM would chart its own course in honour of Raila’s legacy.
“This is not the time to push divisive narratives within ODM. As ODM leaders, we must demonstrate unity so that our members can follow our example. I will not be among those who contribute to the downfall of Raila’s party,” he stated. “Because ODM is one of your biggest legacies, I, as Sifuna, will do everything in my power to keep this party together, even in the face of provocation.”
On 22nd July, Sifuna had even declared the MoU “dead” following the death of blogger Albert Ojwang in police custody at Central Police Station, Nairobi. “On the day Albert Ojwang died in a police cell, to me this agreement died as well. Because it doesn’t matter what else you do, Albert will not be able to enjoy it,” Sifuna remarked.
