Sifuna: I will resign as party SG if ODM formally decides to back Ruto in 2027

Nairobi Senator and Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) Secretary General Edwin Sifuna has publicly declared that he will resign as the SG should the party formally decide to support President William Ruto’s reelection bid.

Speaking during an interview on Citizen TV on Tuesday, Sifuna continued his onslaught against Kenya Kwanza government in what he termed as its failure to fulfil its promises to the people and a breach of the 10-point agenda signed in a working relationship between UDA and ODM.

He was responding to calls from the public to resign from the position if he thinks that the merger between ODM and UDA was not for the public good.

“I have not yet resigned from the party as the SG because I still believe there is still some glimmer of hope, and my party will eventually see the merger as untenable and will be back to defend and protect the people, the ground on which the party was built," Sifuna said.

"If the party decides to go ahead with the merger in 2027, then I will have no option but to resign as the SG," he said

According to Sifuna, the Kenya Kwanza government has failed to respect the Constitution as clearly stated in the preamble.

He said it is the duty of the government to protect, respect, and uphold the Constitution as the supreme document governing this country.

Sifuna lashed out at ODM members who were now calling for the amendment to Article 37 of the Constitution, a move aimed at muzzling the demonstrations and picketing in the country.

He said the ODM party members have, for a long time, gone to the streets, including as late as 2023, to demonstrate against the excesses of the government, and in all those times, they witnessed the brutality of the incumbent governments firsthand.

"It is not fair that now they are in government, and finally they think the brutality meted out to them was not bad,” Sifuna said.

Sifuna reiterated that the ODM members who joined the government did it on their own volition and not with the party's blessings as many have alluded.

He said that they were each called by the President and the appointments were not sanctioned by the party organs.

He, however, implored them to rethink the manifesto of the party and act as the ODM party would in case they formed the government.