Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) Secretary General Edwin Sifuna has dismissed claims that he has been holding political meetings with former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua ahead of the 2027 General Election.
Speaking during a media interview on Tuesday, the Nairobi Senator clarified that he has only met Gachagua twice, both on unrelated occasions.
“I have met the former Deputy President twice. The first time was at a funeral in Nyeri, and the second was when he came to the Senate for his impeachment hearing.
I am used to these kinds of accusations because, as they say, when the hyena wants to eat its children, it accuses them of smelling like a goat,” Sifuna said.
Sifuna further dismissed any notion of political alliance with Gachagua, stating that the former Deputy President, having been impeached, stands no chance of becoming Kenya’s president.
He suggested that Gachagua’s significance to ODM lies in his potential to draw votes away from President William Ruto.
“Former DP Gachagua is impeached; he cannot run. I don’t understand why people talk about him as a viable candidate.
From an ODM perspective, the value he brings is that he’s taking away votes that helped defeat us in 2022.
As long as he’s drawing votes from Ruto, I don’t care where he takes them he is not giving them to William Ruto,” Sifuna added.
On questions about whether he would resign as ODM Secretary General amid disagreements over the broad-based agreement between ODM leader Raila Odinga and President Ruto, Sifuna was unequivocal.
He said he will not resign, affirming his belief in ODM and its leadership. He expressed confidence that Raila Odinga understands what is best for the people and will make the right decisions moving forward.
Sifuna also criticized the broad-based agreement, citing the death of blogger Albert Ojwang in police custody as a breach of the pact’s promise to end extrajudicial killings under President Ruto’s administration.
In response, Nandi Senator Samson Cherargei defended the agreement, insisting it remains intact and criticized Sifuna’s remarks.
“Senator Sifuna is misleading the nation. ODM signed a working partnership with the Kenya Kwanza government, and it is progressing well. He signed the document. Ruto and Raila will work together beyond 2027. The earlier he bolts out, the better for him,” Cherargei said.
Cherargei also accused Sifuna of bitterness over not being appointed a Cabinet Secretary.
Despite the formal partnership between ODM and the Kenya Kwanza administration, Sifuna has continued to be a vocal critic of President Ruto, attracting attention at the highest levels.
The President reportedly once threatened to consult ODM founders to have Sifuna removed from his post.
Ukraine Detains Seven Suspects, Including Teenagers, Accused Of Planning Sabotage For Russia
