Which way ODM? Raila breaks silence amid crisis after Sifuna declared UDA deal dead

The Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) chief Raila Odinga has moved in to put his house back in order and quell seemingly rising tensions within the party after Secretary General Edwin Sifuna’s controversial admissions during an explosive recent Citizen TV interview.

Sifuna, while appearing on ‘The Explainer’ show hosted by Yvonne Okwara this past Tuesday night, declared that the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between ODM and the ruling United Democratic Alliance (UDA) party at the tail-end of the Gen Z-led protests last year is – in his opinion – officially dead.

According to the outspoken Nairobi Senator, the ODM is getting a raw deal as most of the issues that were agreed upon prior to the signing of the MoU had not been implemented by the Kenya Kwanza government, further noting that one such matter was extrajudicial killings which only seems to have increased.

He further added that senior ODM leaders who were co-opted into the President William Ruto administration after the signing of the deal had done so in their individual capacities, and that they do not represent the party’s interests.

These are Cabinet Secretaries John Mbadi (Treasury), Hassan Joho (Mining), Opiyo Wandayi (Energy), Wycliffe Oparanya (MSMEs), and Beatrice Askul (East African Community).

Sifuna’s remarks rubbed a section of ODM leaders the wrong way, with some of them hitting back at him and calling for his resignation over what he termed as contradicting his party leader, Mr. Odinga.

Mr. Odinga on Friday however broke his silence on the matter, when he took to the podium in Kakamega County during the ODM Delegates Conference.

The party honcho came to Sifuna’s defence, noting that ODM is a democratic party and all members are allowed to air out their opinions and grievances on the running of its affairs.

While noting that Sifuna, by virtue of his position as the ODM SG, is the official spokesperson of the party, Mr. Odinga added that the lawmaker is allowed to also speak his individual mind in spite of that seat.

The former Prime Minister went on to add that the party’s central decision-making organs will sit-down and review the deal with UDA, as well as the varying opinions around it from various members, and then arrive at a consensus on which direction to take.

“Everybody has a right to speak their mind, that is what ODM stands for. There will be difference of opinions. Kama Sifuna ameongea, ako na haki ya kuongea. Kama wewe unatofautiana na yeye kimaoni, sema yako…hiyo ndio demokrasia. Mimi sijasema ati wewe usiongee kwa chama, sema ata kama unaona Baba anafanya makosa. Wanachama wa ODM wakisema Baba amechoka arudi Bondo, bas!” He said.

“Sifuna akiongea, mimi siwezi jibu yeye kwa gazeti, nangoja tuende naye kwa mkutano ya Central Committee ama National Executive Committee. Tunaenda tunakaa kila mtu anasema yake. Tukimaliza namna hii, (tunamuambia) bwana Sifuna ongea na waandishi wa habari, yeye ndio mouthpiece ya chama. Yale maneno yote ambayo Sifuna amesema, wengine wameongea…yote sisi tutaketi chini kama chama na mtaskia matamshi yetu, uamuzi wa chama kamili!”

He added: “ODM is a democratic party, and therefore ODM must tolerate divergent views within our party. But when e have talked and there is a consensus, then that must be the party stand. Kwa hivo mimi nasema tuko na wenzetu, tumekuwa nao na muktaba, tutareview tuone yale ambayo yametimizwa na yale ambayo hayajatimizwa, alafu tuseme msimamo na mwelekeo wetu kama chama.”

Mr. Odinga, while revealing that Sifuna was one of the ODM party members who drafted the deal with UDA, stated that some of the key points agreed upon in the MoU had been grossly abused, hence necessitating a review of the working arrangement.

He reiterated his criticism of President Ruto and Interior CS Kipchumba Murkomen on their shoot-to-maim and shoot-to-kill orders, respectively, to police amid a wave of protests against the government.

He stated: “Watu wetu ndio waliandika ile Memorandum of Understanding…akina Sifuna…mimi walikuja tu kunisomea eti hii ndio yenye tumeandika. Nikawauliza mmekubaliana nayo? Basi tuweke sahihi. Ile ilikuwa ni mambo ya kushikilia emergency issues ili serikali iendelee mbele. Lakini sasa yale ambayo tuliandikiana hapo ndio inaleta changamoto; ni ipi ambayo imetekelzwa na ipi haijatekelzwa?”

“Kwanza tulikuwa tuliongea juu ya mambo ya kupigwa raia risasi ovyo ovyo, alafu mwengine anasema kama mtu amekuja karibu na police station, piga risasi – nikamwambia wewe ni mpumbavu. Huwezi kupiga binadamu risasi kama mnyama. Tena usiseme ati piga mguu tu, yeye vilevile ako out of order. Haya ndio mambo ambayo tunataka kureview.”

Mr. Odinga’s remarks came after two of his three deputy party leaders – Mombasa Governor Abdulswamad Shariff Nassir and Vihiga Senator Godfrey Osotsi – spoke, and both of whom also defended Sifuna in the heat of the backlash.

Governor Nassir reiterated remarks Sifuna reportedly made during a Central Committee meeting chaired by Mr. Odinga to discuss a possible working arrangement with the Kenya Kwanza government before the MoU was initiated.

According to the Mombasa County chief, Sifuna warned that entering into a kinda-sorta partnership with UDA would cause complications for ODM and expose it to a public relations nightmare, as the party would always be blamed for any of the administration’s ills.

In his advice to Sifuna, Governor Nassir said: “Nilifunzwa ya kwamba ukiwa unachapwa, ujue una maana; kwa sababu mti wenye matunda ndio wenye kupigwa mawe. Na ukiona unatajwa tajwa hapa na pale, ujue you’re a person of substance.”

His co-deputy party leader Osotsi also backed Sifuna, noting matter of factly that he had given him his blessings to appear on the Citizen TV interview and say whatever he wanted to say, ultimately bringing forth all the ruckus

He hence noted that should the ODM members baying for Sifuna's blood over his remarks in the interview succeed in kicking him out of the SG's position, then he will also walk away from his post in the party.

The Vihiga legislator went ahead to condemn ODM leaders who have been attending UDA rallies and meetings and rooting for the re-election of President Ruto in 2027, noting that no such clause was contained in the MoU.

“Kwa hivo wale wanalaumu Sifuna, ata mlaumu Osotsi. Na mkisema aende, ata mimi ntaenda, kwa sababu mimi naamini yale mambo ambayo alisema. Na Baba alisema yeye (Sifuna) ndiye msemaji wetu wa ODM,” he said.

“Sisi kama chama, hakuna siku tumekaa na tukasema eti mtu mwengine Kumi Bila Break. We have never sat and endorsed any leader for presidency. Baba atatupatia mwelekeo. Kwa hivo those politicians and leaders ambao wanatembea wakisema Kumi Bila Break, tunawaambia hiyo ni yenu, hiyo sio msimamo wa chama. ODM is a distinct political party, na 2027 tutaweka viongozi kwa viti vyote – kuanzia kwa MCA mpaka kwa President.”

Sifuna, who also spoke at the function, maintained his remarks, adding that the ODM party belongs to its five million members in the grassroots, and not a few elected leaders sitting pretty in their offices.

He declared his willingness to vacate the seat, but only if declared useless and a vote of No confidence passed against him by either the party members or Mr. Odinga.

“Kuna watu waliniambia nisikuje hii mkutano. Nikasema hata kama nitakufia Kakamega ni msichana yao ndiye atabaki mjane. Kuna watu hudhani mimi ni mwendawazimu vitu nasema lakini nasema mambo yenye mnataka niseme,” said the ODM SG.

“Mimi kama mwanafunzi wa Raila, nataka kusema hakuna mwanasiasa ambaye anatusiwa, kejeliwa na koselewa zaidi yake. Amenifunza ya kwamba unapokoselewa, wewe ni kiongozi. Wale ambao wamenikosoa hapa nataka niseme sijaskia vibaya.”

Sifuna added: “Leo wanasema Sifuna kazi yake ni kuenda kwa TV. Hiyo TV si yangu, ata wewe ukitaka, uitwe huko uende ujieleze. Kama huna namba ya Yvonne Okwara nikupatie.”