ODM Party Leader Raila Odinga has moved swiftly to ease growing internal tensions following a storm stirred by Secretary-General Edwin Sifuna’s remarks on the party’s relationship with the ruling UDA.
Speaking in Kakamega on Thursday, Raila offered firm backing to Sifuna, who has faced mounting criticism after publicly declaring the ODM-UDA Memorandum of Understanding “dead.” The Nairobi Senator, in a recent Citizen TV interview, accused the Kenya Kwanza administration of breaching the post-protest truce by failing to address key issues—most notably, continued extrajudicial killings.
“The government has acted in bad faith. ODM got a raw deal,” Sifuna stated, prompting backlash from within ODM ranks over fears his comments could fracture party unity and confuse the party’s grassroots support.
Raila, however, defended Sifuna’s right to speak candidly.
“Everybody has a right to speak their mind. That is democracy—and that’s what ODM stands for,” he affirmed, urging critics to engage in constructive dialogue rather than personal attacks.
The episode has reignited debate over ODM’s strategic direction, especially in the aftermath of Raila’s unsuccessful bid for the African Union Commission chairmanship earlier this year. Political analysts suggest Sifuna’s rising outspokenness may signal a tactical shift—portraying Raila as the statesman while Sifuna channels grassroots frustrations and reasserts ODM’s opposition role.
Sifuna’s hardline stance has resonated with younger supporters disillusioned by ODM’s perceived proximity to President William Ruto. His warning against a potential 2027 endorsement of Ruto and criticism of ODM’s current trajectory has earned him a growing following—both online and within the party’s base.
With Raila signaling openness to backing “somebody else” in the 2027 presidential race, attention is now on Sifuna’s next steps. As ODM navigates internal realignments and external expectations, the dynamic between its two key leaders could define both the party’s future—and Raila’s enduring influence.
