Nairobi, Kenya- The political temperature in Nairobi spiked on Sunday after ODM Secretary General Edwin Sifuna and Embakasi East MP Babu Owino rallied a group of legislators to step up their criticism of President William Ruto’s administration.
The fiery leaders, joined by MPs Gathoni Wamuchomba (Githunguri), Caleb Amisi (Saboti), Anthony Kibagendi (Kitutu Chache South), Obadiah Barongo (Bomachoge Borabu), Clive Gisairo (Kitutu Masaba) and Joshua Kimilu (Kaiti), used a church service at Jesus Teaching Ministry (JTM) to sharpen their attack on the government.
They accused the President of weaponising recent bribery claims in Parliament to intimidate critics, while failing to address what they termed as “state deception and economic betrayal.”
Building an Anti-Ruto Bloc
Amisi likened their push to a biblical liberation: “We want to release the people of Kenya from the hands of Pharaoh and we are ready.”
Kibagendi said their movement is expanding, insisting they have at least 70 MPs already on board. He urged Kenyans to register as voters to secure “regime change” in 2027.
Sifuna, on his part, used biblical imagery to frame their defiance: “In this Kenya Moja, we are the Meshack, Shadrack and Abednego. We have refused to kneel down; we are ready to die for what we believe in.”
The ODM senator also dismissed the bribery allegations swirling around Parliament as a targeted assault on Kenya Moja MPs who have refused to toe the administration’s line.
Babu Owino went further, throwing the corruption card back at the Executive: “Start by arresting the people around you who are known for corruption.”
The Pipeline Battle
Beyond politics, the leaders warned against alleged plans to sell the Kenya Pipeline Company (KPC). They claimed the government was deliberately undervaluing the parastatal to hand it over to close allies through proxies.
“This is daylight economic sabotage,” charged Kibagendi, while Sifuna vowed to mobilise resistance: “We will not allow KPC to be auctioned under the guise of privatisation.”
KPC, which oversees the country’s critical fuel transport and storage system, has increasingly been in the spotlight amid government privatisation talks.
Rift Over NG-CDF
Interestingly, the session also revealed fault lines within the opposition camp. Kitutu Masaba MP Clive Gisairo openly criticised ODM leader Raila Odinga’s recent call to scrap the National Government Constituencies Development Fund (NG-CDF).
He warned that shifting the billions to counties would hurt students from poor families: “Some people are fighting NG-CDF, which is the only hope for many poor children. This will be an injustice.”
Raila has argued the fund is unconstitutional and should be replaced with county-led alternatives.
The Bigger Picture
The Kenya Moja alliance — a bloc of youthful, outspoken MPs — has in recent weeks intensified its campaign against Ruto, hammering him over taxes, the cost of living, and youth unemployment.
Their escalating rhetoric signals an early build-up to 2027, with Sunday’s rally in Nairobi showing the group’s intent to become the President’s loudest and most organised opposition both inside and outside Parliament.
