Why Senator Sifuna is not sitting pretty despite truce

A plea for truce within the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) has cooled open hostilities but has not fully resolved unease surrounding the position of Secretary General Edwin Sifuna.

The Nairobi senator’s standing in the party remains under scrutiny despite the intervention of ODM leaders Oburu Oginga and Ida Odinga, Raila Odinga’s widow, who separately engaged Sifuna in efforts to calm tensions.

On Thursday, senior ODM figures held a meeting under the guidance of former Busia Senator Amos Wako, a party trustee, as part of attempts to stabilise the situation.

Sources familiar with the discussions said the meeting also focused on plans for countrywide engagements aimed at popularising the party.

The meeting was attended by about 12 leaders, among them Wako, Sifuna, Siaya Governor James Orengo, Suba North MP Millie Mabona, Embakasi East MP Babu Owino and Kisumu Woman Representative Ruth Odinga.

While the truce eased tensions that had threatened to escalate into a broader party dispute, concerns persist over divisions linked to Sifuna’s opposition to any political arrangement between ODM and President William Ruto’s United Democratic Alliance (UDA).

Sifuna has previously stated publicly that he would rather step aside than see ODM aligned with President Ruto ahead of the 2027 elections.

His position contrasts with views held by some within the party who support engagement with the Ruto administration.

On Wednesday, after holding separate meetings with Oburu and Ida Odinga, Sifuna said he was ready to engage with all party members to resolve differences.

“I have listened to every word that you have said, and as I said at Mzee’s (Raila Odinga) burial, it will not be Sifuna to wreck ODM party,” he said.

“I made that promise to Mzee and I want to repeat it here.”

Addressing criticism from within the party, the Nairobi senator said personal attacks would not stop him from engaging colleagues in the interest of party unity.

“The advice that you have given, Mama, I want to tell you there is no one in ODM. It doesn’t matter how many times, how badly you have insulted me, there is none in ODM I will not sit down with,” he said.

Sifuna’s stance has drawn criticism from some party members, who accuse him of undermining collective decisions.

Nandi Senator Samson Cherargei, speaking separately, claimed Sifuna was being politically managed by his party.

“Sifuna is being fattened for a big slaughter politically in fullness of time. He is a newbie in politics; he will never know what happened when he is politically minced meat,” Cherargei said.

Political analysts, however, say Sifuna is unlikely to publicly support President Ruto despite the truce.

Political analyst Martin Andati told the Star that the rift is rooted in ideological differences.

“He cannot back Ruto. He has already taken a stand. Him and Ruto have serious ideological differences,” Andati said.

Within ODM, critics have accused the secretary general of acting contrary to party positions and openly challenging the party’s approach to cooperation with the Ruto administration.

Migori Senator Eddy Oketch, who had previously petitioned for Sifuna’s removal from office before withdrawing the motion, accused him of opposing ODM’s cooperation agreement with the government and engaging with rival political parties while serving as the party’s spokesperson.

The petition cited provisions of the ODM constitution requiring party officials to adhere to collective decisions and respect the authority of the party leader in political negotiations.

It also raised concerns over public statements by Sifuna that party leaders said should have been handled internally.