Ruto alliance for Baba's family: Sifuna accuses ODM leaders of turning on Raila’s family

Nairobi Senator and Linda Mwananchi Movement leader Edwin Sifuna yesterday hit out at the leadership of the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) for unfairly targeting the family of former Prime Minister Raila Odinga.

He said the ODM leadership has turned against Raila’s family only one year after his death.

Mr Sifuna accused ODM’s top officials of focusing on supporting President William Ruto’s re-election and abandoning the family of the man who brought them into the limelight.

Speaking at a church service in Nairobi, he claimed that the recent disruption at Raila’s first anniversary event in Bondo was orchestrated by local leaders who were unhappy with the invitation of Linda Mwananchi leaders.

No-shows

Senator Sifuna, who is also The Equitable Party leader, said some ODM leaders who were close to Raila were nowhere to be seen, some opting to engage in their businesses instead of joining the family in remembering the man who fought for democracy.

“The same people who had vowed not to eat before Raila gave orders have forgotten him and are now singing the tune of someone else. They are insulting his widow and even his children,” he said.

He said they will stand firm in defending the family and fighting for the political ideologies the late Raila stood for.

“Someone said that the love that they had for Baba is not transferable to anyone else. No one is asking you to transfer that love but at the best minimum, respect the family of the departed party leader.”

Raila’s widow, Ida Odinga, last week slammed politicians for turning her husband’s memorial into a supremacy battleground, even as she defended the family’s right to invite politicians from all formations, which they said was a key characteristic of the former premier.

Ida regretted how the solemn remembrance of Raila had descended into a political show of might, chaos and heckling of some guests he had invited to the event.

She said parts of the memorial were disrupted by booing, shouting and acts of intimidation directed at some of her guests.

In his speech during the church function, Mr Sifuna, who has also expressed interest in the presidency in the 2027 General Election, said the Kenya Kwanza administration had betrayed Kenyans, hence the need for leadership change.

“You cannot be the president who goes after someone’s child for posting something on Facebook. That is not democracy. Democracy respects the freedom to worship, not throwing teargas inside the church. Democracy respects the freedom of the media.”

Usawa slogan

Responding to Dr Ruto’s claims that the opposition was not prepared to face him, the senator accused him of using the “usawa” slogan of the opposition party. The team also promised to unite and form one coalition to face President Ruto in the next election.

Embakasi East MP Babu Owino accused the Ruto administration of being silent while Nairobi, under Governor Johnson Sakaja, was being ruined by corruption at City Hall.

He assured residents that if elected as governor in the upcoming election, he would fix roads, ensure bursaries are free for all schoolchildren, clean the city and collect garbage, and employ young people.

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