NAIROBI, Kenya – Nairobi Senator and ODM Secretary General Edwin Sifuna has declared he will not support his party if it chooses to endorse President William Ruto’s re-election bid in 2027.
Speaking in Trans Nzoia on Sunday, Sifuna said while he remains committed to reading any official statements from the Orange Democratic Movement — even those critical of him — he would not be the one to announce a pro-Ruto endorsement.
“Since I am the Secretary General of the party, I will read all the resolutions from ODM, even if they insult me — except one. But the day the party decides it wants to support Ruto come 2027, that one I will not read,” Sifuna stated.
He further signalled his readiness to step down if the party chooses a path he cannot defend, inviting those eager for his role to prepare themselves.
“Some have said Nyando MP Jared Okelo is better than me because he speaks good English. Be ready if you want to take up my role. If they endorse Ruto, I won’t be a part of that,” he added.
Sifuna also threw his support behind ODM party leader Raila Odinga’s recent remarks encouraging open debate and democracy within the party, noting that no official should be gagged for expressing an independent opinion.
“Raila has said that this is a democratic party, and any member is free to speak their mind,” Sifuna said. “Those who say I cannot hold views independent of the party just because I am the Secretary General — I want to tell you that Raila has said I can speak my mind.”
The senator’s firm stance follows his earlier warning, issued on Citizen TV on July 24, that he would resign if ODM were to proceed with a political merger or endorsement of Ruto’s UDA party ahead of the 2027 polls.
“The only reason I haven’t resigned is because there’s still some glimmer of hope that my party will eventually see the merger as untenable,” Sifuna said. “If the party decides to go ahead with the merger in 2027, then I will have no option but to resign as SG.”
The remarks come amid growing speculation over shifting political alliances and concerns from ODM supporters that collaboration with Ruto’s camp could dilute the party’s ideological stance and alienate its base.
Raila Odinga, meanwhile, has defended Sifuna from internal criticism, maintaining that ODM remains a democratic organisation where leaders are free to voice differing opinions.
