When President William Ruto attended a Sunday church service in Nairobi last week, a majority of Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) leaders took turns to praise him and rebuke some of their party colleagues’ anti-government stance.
Unbeknown to many, the leaders had spent the previous day sharply divided on whether or not to attend the church service. ODM Secretary-General Edwin Sifuna was among those who said the opposition party’s politicians should keep off.
Nation.Africa has learnt that it was not until the last minute that a senior party official called, questioning Mr Sifuna’s allegiance to ODM’s ideals and urging the leaders to accompany President Ruto to the church event at United Pentecostal Church.
The questioning and previous utterances by the Nairobi senator is now at the centre of a storm as some ODM leaders now say their secretary-general is a ‘marked’ man for going against the party position.
The church service in Dagoretti was attended by a majority of ODM MPs, including TJ Kajwang’ (Ruaraka), Anthony Oluoch (Mathare), Beatrice Elachi (Dagoretti North), Mark Mwenje (Embakasi West), Felix Odiwuor (Langata) and Alego Usonga’s Sam Atandi.
Makadara MP George Aladwa issued a warning to all the leaders from the ODM, who have been criticising the broad-based government saying the party is going to “deal with them” after the conclusion of the African Union chairmanship election scheduled for next month.
“The President must be respected. People should not be going to the television interviews claiming that the President is a one-term President,” Mr Aladwa said, adding that critics would be dealt with after the African Union Commission chairperson election, where Mr Raila Odinga is vying, is held in February.
Although he did not mention names, Mr Aladwa was widely thought to have been targeting Senator Sifuna, who recently claimed during a television appearance that President Ruto has been surrounded by leaders who might make him a one-term President.
The Nairobi senator said some leaders — including Tiaty MP William Kamket, and Kapseret’s Oscar Sudi — are letting the President down.
"He is surrounded by people who have decided that they have to tear him down. They are going to take him down. If there is anybody to be blamed for the one-time presidency of Ruto, it will be Kamket, Oscar Sudi, and the likes who are surrounding him (and) giving him bad advice,” Senator Sifuna said.
Kileleshwa Ward Representative Robert Alai, a Ruto-critic-turned-ally, accuses Mr Sifuna of pushing selfish ambitions using the party and urged him to quit ODM instead of causing infighting.
“Mr Sifuna is just the party spokesperson. The problem with him is that he believes that he is the brains behind the ODM party which is not the case. The party has its founding members. Who are you to issue contradicting directions from the party leadership? Majority of MPs and leaders are in the broad-based government and we are here to ensure President Ruto is supported. This does not necessarily mean that we are supporting President Ruto in 2027, we have not decided on that,” Mr Alai said.
In what appears to be a growing disquiet within the party, a section of leaders opposed to the support of the Kenya Kwanza administration have kept off events hosted by the President.
Late last year, for instance, MPs in Nairobi skipped a September meeting at State House. They include Mr Sifuna and Babu Owino (Embakasi East), TJ Kajwang’ (Ruaraka) and Tim Wanyonyi (Westlands). The leaders except for Mr Kajwang also skipped the Sunday service in Dagoretti.
Mr Sifuna has been critical in opposing the government insisting he is fulfilling his role as the party spokesperson and following the instructions provided by ODM leader Raila Odinga.
During the burial of former Kenya National Commission on Human Rights Chairperson Roseline Odede, Mr Sifuna, however, accused those opposed to his utterances saying they are undermining his efforts in upholding the party principles.
“We must be truthful. We have been challenged to speak to powers. As your secretary-general, there are clear instructions that you gave me. There is only one secretary-general in ODM. You told me that we must retain the identity of ODM as a beacon of hope for Kenyans and as a party that stands for justice. Whether you go to AU or miss the seat, I will give you back the party the way you left it,” Mr Sifuna said.
“We (ODM) have an identity. If you lose that identity for easy victories, we are going to pay for it in the future. If you must make compromises, do so on matters of principle. Do not be part of praise and worship. When there is too much sycophancy, people lose sight of their fundamentals,” he said.
When reached for comment regarding threats to oust him, Mr Sifuna declined to answer phone calls and text messages.
Kisii Senator Richard Onyonka holds that the support that the ODM gave to the Kenya Kwanza administration following the June 2024 youth-led protests was on condition that the government uphold the principles of good governance but that this has not been happening.
“As a party, we have our fundamental ideals and we had agreed that we are only going to support the government if it changes its behaviour and focus on listening to the people and upholding good governance. But this has not been happening. Do you expect me to support a government that violates human rights, wastes taxpayer’s resources and looks down on the people? I can never do that,” Mr Onyonka told Nation.Africa , adding that he backs Mr Sifuna’s stand.
Acting Party leader Anyang Nyong’o has, however, dismissed the talks on divisions within the party insisting that ODM is a distinct political party that upholds democracy.
“We are aware of the deliberate rumour-mongering machinery orchestrated by enemies of democracy in our country, whose sole mission is to destabilise our party. Let it be known that ODM is stronger and more united than ever, and we remain steadfast in our pursuit of justice, democracy, and prosperity for all Kenyans,” Prof Nyong’o said after holding a Central Committee meeting on January 10.
Political analyst Prof Herman Manyora characterizes what is going on in ODM as a fight for survival, especially for the young and ambitious politicians such as Mr Sifuna.
“The progressive and ambitious young leaders in ODM have a tough choice to make. The choice to follow Raila and probably put a nail in one's political coffin, or to be on the side of the people and, sadly, lose out on the Raila support that often counts for so much, especially in ODM strongholds of Nyanza and Nairobi. This is the challenge facing Babu Owino and Edwin Sifuna and what you are currently seeing going on within the party,” Prof Manyora told Nation.Africa .
The sharp divisions within the party have awakened the ghosts of the past where those opposed to the party leadership and perceived common stand have been ejected under controversial circumstances. In 2014, for instance, former ODM executive director Magerer Langat was unceremoniously kicked out of the party over loyalty to the party.
Mr Magerer was attacked and roughed up for allegedly claiming that “the party is dead” and that its leader, Mr Odinga, was “old” and should resign". Mr Langat was also accused of being a mole for the Jubilee Party — which was then in power.
In 2016, former Budalang’i MP Ababu Namwamba also unceremoniously left the party following months of internal disputes and questions about his loyalty.
Mr Sifuna would later in 2016 declare himself secretary-general in controversial circumstances but was officially confirmed to the position in 2018.
