NAIROBI, Kenya – Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) CEO Oduor Ong’wen has come to the defence of Secretary General Edwin Sifuna, amid growing internal and public criticism over his increasingly vocal opposition to the party’s political arrangement with President William Ruto’s United Democratic Alliance (UDA).
Speaking on Wednesday, Ong’wen reaffirmed that Sifuna remains the official spokesperson of ODM and is fully mandated to articulate the party’s position on key national issues.
He added that Sifuna is also entitled to express his personal views — a freedom guaranteed in any democratic setup.
“He is the Secretary General, and therefore the official voice of the party. But he is also a citizen entitled to his personal opinion. That does not take away from the party’s cohesion,” Ong’wen stated.
The ODM boss also clarified that no formal motion to oust Sifuna has been submitted, saying any such action would be handled in line with the party’s internal regulations and democratic values.
His remarks come a day after Sifuna gave a candid interview on Citizen TV’s The Explainer, where he painted a picture of a party in ideological confusion, struggling to maintain a coherent voice in the face of conflicting internal interests and public expectations.
“Right now, there is a lot of confusion,” Sifuna said. “There was a time when it was easy to be ODM SG because we never compromised on our values. Today, I find it difficult to articulate where we stand.”
The Nairobi Senator, known for his outspoken style, also declared that the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between ODM and UDA is effectively “dead,” citing the recent death of teacher and blogger Albert Ojwang while in police custody.
“On the day Albert Ojwang dies in a police cell, to me this agreement is dead,” Sifuna said. “The spirit of that deal was betrayed.”
Sifuna’s remarks have stirred debate within ODM, with former party chairman and current Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi accusing him of undermining party unity and leadership.
“Between the party leader and the Secretary General, whose decision is final?” Mbadi posed, reiterating that Raila Odinga remains the ultimate authority within ODM.
Mbadi also confirmed that Cabinet Secretaries who joined the Kenya Kwanza administration did so with Odinga’s full knowledge and approval after wide consultations with President Ruto.
“I’m glad Sifuna clarified that those are his personal opinions. They do not reflect the official position of the party,” Mbadi added.
Ong’wen also took the opportunity to condemn the recent wave of killings and abductions across the country, reiterating that ODM does not support such actions, which he described as “unacceptable and deserving of the highest condemnation.”
