I’ll not be intimidated, says teargassed Sifuna

Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna was yesterday teargassed in Kitengela but the embattled ODM secretary general declared he would not be intimidated.

The incident occurred shortly after Sifuna addressed a well-attended rally in Kitengela.

Teargas canisters were lobbed at the venue to disperse the mammoth crowd, sending supporters scrambling for safety in chaotic scenes.

Sifuna declared that no amount of intimidation or political threats will force him to retreat from criticising the government.

Sifuna, who is also the Nairobi senator, insisted that he and like-minded leaders will continue speaking out against alleged injustices.

Speaking during a church service in Kitengela, Sifuna, said he remains resolute in defending Kenyans.

“Even if they want, they can hunt us down, scheme against us, but we will not stop speaking the truth to protect Kenyans from injustices of the government, the corruption, abductions and extrajudicial killings,” he said.

Vihiga Senator Godffrey Osotsi, Kisii Senator Richard Onyonka and Siaya Governor James Orengo joined Sifuna at the service.

Also present were several Members of Parliament, including Embakasi East MP Babu Owino, Suba South’s Caroli Omondi, Kitutu Chache South’s Anthony Kibagendi, Kaiti’s Joshua Kimilu, Funyula’s Oundo Ojiambo and Saboti’s Caleb Amisi.

Sifuna recalled lessons from the late former Prime Minister Raila Odinga, saying leadership requires constant accountability to the people.

“The late former Prime Minister Raila Odinga used to tell us that if you are a leader, there must be people you are leading,” he said.

"And that every step you take, you have to turn back to see if the people are still with you. And that is what we will keep doing."

He expressed gratitude to Kenyans for their support amid political turbulence.

“I want to thank Kenyans because you have turned to take my roles and you are giving me comfort that even if they eliminate me, there will be more than 15 million who will continue with my work of fighting for the people,” Sifuna said.

The senator said the economy is not doing well and public services are crumbling.

"Our kids are not in school. Things are going haywire even in the health sector, but they tell us that we should be quiet or they remove us from our positions," he said.

"I want to assure Kenyans that we will keep standing with the people. I will protect the people today, and they will protect me tomorrow."

The leaders also accused the rival faction led by Oburu Oginga of being compromised by President William Ruto, escalating the simmering wrangles in the party.

They alleged that recent moves to reorganise the party leadership were part of a broader scheme to align the outfit with the Kenya Kwanza administration.

 “We were three deputy party leaders, those ones have gone to Ruto. I am the one who has remained in ODM,” Osotsi said.

“I want to tell those in Mombasa (Oburu team in Tononoka), they have the party but we have the party members,” Embakasi East MP Babu Owino said.

The faction insisted that the grassroots membership remains firmly behind them and vowed to resist what they termed an attempted takeover.

They maintained that ODM’s identity as a strong opposition voice must be preserved, warning that any deal that dilutes its independence would face stiff resistance.

“If you want to live for a long time, stand for the truth,” Siaya Governor James Orengo said.

“This journey is not just for 2027 but now, we must liberate our country.”

The accusations mark the latest twist in a deepening power struggle that has split the party into rival camps, each claiming legitimacy and the right to chart ODM’s political future ahead of the 2027 elections.

The leaders allied to Sifuna also dismissed a National Executive Council decision purporting to remove him from office, insisting he remains the party’s bona fide secretary general.

“Sifuna is going nowhere,” Osotsi said. "I am also the ODM deputy party leader. I don’t know why they didn’t remove me, I am worse than Sifuna."

The faction further claimed that the move to remove Sifuna was aimed at silencing dissenting voices in the party and steering ODM into alliances without broader consultation of members.

They maintained that internal disputes should be resolved through dialogue and party organs recognised by law.

INSTANT ANALYSIS

The NEC decision has deepened divisions in the outfit associated with former Prime Minister Raila Odinga. Rival camps are trading accusations over loyalty, discipline and the party’s strategic direction ahead of the 2027 elections. This puts the future of the party that recently turned 20 at risk.