Go to Bondo for Baba’s signature, Sifuna says on MoU extension

Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna has dismissed any possibility of extending the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between President William Ruto’s United Democratic Alliance (UDA) and Raila Odinga’s Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) beyond the March 7 deadline.

Speaking in an interview with K24, Sifuna maintained that the agreement, signed on March 7, 2025, did not contain any provision for extension and was designed to run for a fixed period ending March 7, 2026.

“Anybody who wants to extend this MoU, I have said it before, you must go to Bondo and get Baba’s signature,” he said.

Sifuna insisted that no other party official has the authority to alter or prolong the agreement, emphasising that the late ODM leader Raila Odinga deliberately structured the deal without an extension clause.

“No other signature can be appended to extend this MoU because Baba, in his wisdom, did not ask for a provision for extension of the MoU. Why didn’t he insist that we must provide for extension?”

According to the senator, the omission was intentional because the pact was meant to address specific governance concerns within a defined timeframe, after which both parties would reassess their political paths ahead of the next General Election.

Sifuna explained that there was a set period within which the two parties were to achieve certain objectives before retreating to plan themselves as a party for the next general election.

He added that the MoU was primarily intended to resolve what he described as “software problems” affecting the country’s governance framework.

Among the issues listed in the 10-point agenda were the protection of devolution, safeguarding the lives and livelihoods of Kenyans, and the stoppage of abductions and killings of young people.

The 10-point agenda memorandum of understanding signed between UDA and ODM serves as a framework for cooperation and national dialogue. It outlines key governance reforms and sets March 7, 2026, as the deadline for full implementation or submission of a final status report.

The committee overseeing the implementation of the National Dialogue Committee (NADCO) report and the bipartisan agenda has expressed confidence that it will deliver a comprehensive report on the anniversary date.

Committee chairperson Agnes Zani has assured Kenyans that the team will meet its mandate within the stipulated timelines.

Zani urged the public to maintain confidence in the process, noting that the committee now has a clear understanding of the issues Kenyans want addressed.

Meanwhile, ODM leader Oburu Odinga on Sunday rejected claims from a section of party members suggesting that the cooperation agreement would automatically collapse this week.

Some members had cited the March 7 anniversary as a hard deadline marking the end of the political arrangement.

Oburu clarified that the date should be viewed as a milestone for reflection rather than dissolution. He said both parties intend to use the occasion to evaluate progress made on the 10-point agenda that anchors their cooperation.