Sifuna is our star, protect him – Luhya leaders tell Raila

Top ODM officials and lawmakers have defended secretary general Edwin Sifuna against attacks over his recent utterances on broad-based government.

Sifuna, who is also the Nairobi Senator, sparked outrage on Tuesday when he suggested that the political deal between ODM boss Raila Odinga and President William Ruto is dead.

He threatened to resign should the party decide to back Ruto in 2027.

The comments, interpreted as veering off the ODM script, especially after Raila indicated possibility of rallying the party behind Ruto’s re-election.

Some diehard ODM supporters and grassroots mobilisers accused Sifuna of betrayal, while others called for his resignation as party secretary general.

Hashtags targeting Sifuna trended online for days, with some accusing him of advancing his personal political agenda.

But some ODM heavyweights on Friday closed ranks around Sifuna, terming the attacks as unwarranted and describing him as a “truth-teller”.

ODM Deputy Party Leader and Vihiga Senator Goddfrey Osotsi even threatened to resign from the party should Sifuna be pushed out.

“If you say he should resign, I will also follow him,” he said.

Osotsi said the party is yet to agree on the candidate to support in 2027 and those pushing for Ruto’s two-term are on their own.

Butere MP Tindi Mwale told Sifuna’s critics to slow down, saying the broad-based government does not translate to turning blind eyes on the administration’s successes.

“It is not we are in broad based we should be blind to the administration’s excesses. In broadbased government we must tell each other the truth,” Mwale said.

“When the government is making mistakes then everyone including Sifuna has the right to say this is wrong. Sifuna did no wrong.”

Budalangi MP Wanjala asked Raila to protect Sifuna from incessant attacks from Luo Nyanza leaders.

“You (Raila) said that Sifuna is the spokesman of the party and when he speaks the party has spoken, now I ask you to appeal to the Luo community that ODM is not a Luo party so that they stop this habit of threatening anybody with contrary opinion to resign,” he said.

“Sifuna is our star; we don’t want anybody to dim our star. Protect Sifuna from the Luo community.”

Kakamega Deputy Governor Ayub Savula said the Western region will stand with Sifuna against the plans to oust him from the party.

“We are standing 100 per cent with our son Edwin Sifuna, we are ready to face off with anyone trying to push him out of ODM,” he said.

The leaders spoke during ODM delegates’ conference in Kakamega county. The county is planning to celebrate 20th birthday later in the year.

The meeting was also attended by Kakamega Governor Fernades Barasa, Cotu boss Francis Atwoli, governors Paul Otuoma (Busia) and Wilberforce Ottichilo (Vihiga).

Changamwe MP Omar Mwinyi and his Jomvu counterpart Twalib Badi said those attacking Sifuna do not understand Raila’s brand of politics.

“If you don’t understand Raila’s politics then observe , don’t make noise ask for someone to tell you or watch Sifuna moves,” Mwinyi said.

“In ODM we have freedom of expression because that is what Raila fought for. People should stop attacking Sifuna because that is his right,” Bady said.

Mombasa Governor Abdulswamad Nassir warned against gagging members in the party, saying everyone should be free to express his views.

“If we are going to try and gag people then Raila’s dream of conclave will not be a reality,” he said.

The show of support, coming from influential party insiders, signals a coordinated push to protect Sifuna from internal backlash and affirms growing tolerance for new political realities within the ODM hierarchy.

Sifuna denied any wrong doing, insisting his loyalty to the party and ODM leader is unquestionable.

The senator said intergenerational talks being pushed by Raila will only materialise if people’s views are respected.

“We cannot have intergenerational talk when people are baying for the blood of those with different opinions,” Sifuna said.

Raila said the party’s central committee will convene to analyse the implementation of the UDA-MoU and communicate their stand.

The ODM boss also defended Sifuna saying it was within his right to express himself saying there is need to protect democracy in the outfit.

“Democracy is the core of the party. There is freedom to speak and be heard, someone said I may not agree with you are saying but I will defend your right to say it. That is what ODM stands for,” Raila said.

“All Sifuna said we shall discuss as a party and you will hear our position, ODM must tolerate divergent views of our party.”

“We must protect the right of the people to speak, Sifuna has the right to express himself.”

INSTANT ANALYSIS

Nairobi senator Edwin Sifuna early this week triggered debate after declaring the truce between President William Ruto and ODM boss Raila dead insisting the continued partnership is hurting the opposition party’s future. The utterances elicited sharp reactions with some leaders demanding that he resigns from his position.