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

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

According to the Linda Mwananchi leaders, the ODM leadership has turned against Raila’s family one year after his death.

Mr Sifuna accused ODM’s top officials of focusing on supporting President William Ruto for a second reelection and abandoning the family of the man who brought them into the limelight.

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

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

Also Read: Placing bets on both sides: Odinga family’s big gamble

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

He said that they will stand firm in defending the family and fighting for the political ideologies that 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 very least, please respect the family of the departed party leader.”

The late Raila Odinga’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 Prime Minister.

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.

Also Read:Chaos, political rivalry mar Raila Odinga anniversary event

According to Ida, 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 that the Kenya Kwanza regime had betrayed Kenyans, hence, the need for a change of leadership.

Also Read: Battle for Raila name and legacy as Ruto, Sifuna, Kalonzo seek Nyanza vote

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

While responding to President Ruto’s claims that the opposition was not prepared to face him, the senator accused him of using the “usawa” slogan, which was one of the slogans of the opposition parties.

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 current regime of being silent while Nairobi County, under Governor Johnson Sakaja, was being ruined by corruption at City Hall.

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

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