Ruth Odinga defends Sifuna, questions funding of ODM ‘Linda Ground’ meetings

Kisumu Woman Rep Ruth Odinga./FILE

Kisumu Woman Representative Ruth Odinga has defended Nairobi Senator and ODM Secretary-General Edwin Sifuna amid criticism.

Ruth raised fresh questions about the funding of recent Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) public meetings and warned against what she termed attempts to silence dissent within the party.

She said attacks directed at Sifuna following his recent interview on Citizen TV were unjustified, arguing that the ODM secretary-general had merely raised legitimate concerns about party finances and the implementation of the March 2025 Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between President William Ruto and the late former Prime Minister Raila Odinga.

During the interview, Sifuna stated that ODM had not spent any money on the recent political activities. The Kisumu Woman Representative said this raised critical questions about who was financing the events and for what purpose.

“Are governors funding the campaigns? Are MPs using CDF resources? Or is there a philanthropist funding expensive political mobilisation without the knowledge of the party secretary-general?” she asked.

“And if such a philanthropist exists, what is in it for them?”

She linked the funding concerns to what she described as a lack of political goodwill in implementing the MoU, which was intended to stabilise the country following months of political tension and Gen-Z-led protests.

Ruth Odinga warned that silencing voices like Sifuna’s could harm the party, noting that former ODM leader Raila Odinga himself had historically taken firm positions even while serving in coalition governments.

“If questioning power makes one a rebel, then how many times was Raila Odinga called one. Even during the nusu mkate government, he stood his ground.”

The Kisumu Woman Representative also claimed that ODM is owed Sh12 billion in political party funding by the government, money she said is constitutionally due based on the party’s parliamentary strength.

“The government has the option of releasing the funds to the party. But once that happens, they lose control. That is why we are seeing money flying in choppers and funding public meetings, yet none of it is sent to ODM party accounts,” Ruth said.

She argued that external control of funding was influencing who speaks at ODM events and what messages are allowed on public platforms. With less than a month remaining before the MoU’s expiry in March, Ruth defended Sifuna’s public declaration that the agreement was effectively “dead,” saying there was nothing treasonous about stating what many party members were observing.

“If President Ruto does not honour an agreement he signed with Raila Odinga, how sure are those celebrating a future pact that he will honour it?” she asked.

She said responsibility for the success or failure of the MoU lay squarely with President Ruto, not the committee tasked with implementing its 10-point agenda.

“The buck stops with the bearer of the signature. We have until March 7 to see how this will go.”

Sifuna had raised questions regarding the source of resources used in the ODM’s Linda Ground rallies across the country.

He said that, as a signatory to the party’s bank account alongside National Treasurer Timothy Bosire, they had not authorised any withdrawals to facilitate the rallies. Sifuna said the party’s last spending was on its 20th Anniversary fete in Mombasa in November last year.

“The money you see being spent in ODM rallies is not coming from ODM headquarters; there is parallel funding for activities clothed in ODM colours,” he said, rejecting reports that his party was funding the events.

“Forget this rubbish you hear people saying here. Timothy Bosire, the treasurer, is also a signatory to the bank accounts, and the last money we expended as ODM officially was for the celebrations in Mombasa, and it was a fraction of what we saw there.”

When asked if he knew the source of the funds, the SG said, “You will ask them. I can only account for monies that I am a signatory to.”

The first Linda Ground rally was launched in Kamkunji, Kibra Constituency, last month and was attended by Party Leader Oburu Oginga, party chairperson Gladys Wanga, and other leaders.

The ODM team has also since held similar rallies in Kakamega, Busia, Kisumu, and Kisii counties, where speakers have been pushing for planned pre-election coalition talks with President William Ruto’s UDA.