Edwin Sifuna Rules out Resigning from ODM Despite Partnership with Ruto: "I've Not Given Up"
- ODM secretary general Edwin Sifuna says he is in the ODM party for the long haul despite setbacks
- He ruled out stepping out of his position as the secretary general despite the difference in ideologies with his boss, Raila Odinga
- Whilst Raila has declared support for President William Ruto's regime, Sifuna passionately speaks against it and discourages Kenyans from voting for the president in 2022
Kai Eli, a journalist at TUKO.co.ke, brings more than three years of experience covering politics and current affairs in Kenya.
ODM secretary general Edwin Sifuna has addressed the likelihood of his resignation from the post due to the apparent ideological clash with his boss, Raila Odinga.
Source: Twitter
In a tell-all interview with Citizen TV, Sifuna admitted that there is confusion on what the party stands for after the memorandum of understanding signed in March with the ruling UDA party.
Why Raila, Sifuna are clashing
He suggested a difference in ideology with his boss, who has in the recent past been lenient to President William Ruto and even pledged support to the regime until 2027.
Sifuna, on the other hand, has been harshly vocal against Ruto, warning Kenyans against reelecting him in 2027.
With the dissent from Raila's stance, it was argued that it would be tenable if he resigned from his post.
In his response, Sifuna, who is also the senator for Nairobi, said he had not contemplated giving up his post.
Sifuna said he was optimistic that he would ultimately convince his boss to view Ruto analytically and get to share in the thoughts of those against the president.
"The reason I will not resign yet is because I have not given up yet, I have not given up on members of the ODM. There is still belief and trust within the ranks of the party that Baba knows what is right for the people and that he will do the right thing. On the day that I give up, I will tell you, I will say it publicly that I have lost the battle to rescue this party and to bring it back to where it was," he said.
Under what circumstances can Sifuna leave his ODM SG post?
Despite his resolve to remain in his post, Sifuna said he would still leave if the top brass of the party wanted him out.
"It's not only Sifuna who can do the job of SG of ODM, and this position is not mine forever. I have said it; it has been the honour of my life to serve in this position. There are thousands of members of ODM, young people, who can do this job. Even when I was appointed eight years ago, I was 35 years old. We can find another 35-year-old who maybe can articulate the positions clearer than I do. So, the issue is not about positions," he said.
However, he was categorical that he would quit on his own volition should Raila make it formal that he is supporting Ruto's reelection.
"I think if a decision is taken to formally support William Ruto for 27, that is something that I cannot abide personally. And I'm sure everybody would respect that. But because that decision has not been made, that is why I'm saying I'm holding out that there is still time for us to correct course," Sifuna said.
Source: Twitter
Meanwhile, the senator argued that ODM stands a high chance of forming the next government, and hence it would be a misstep for Raila to consider backing Ruto.
But even with whichever eventuality, he vowed to remain within ODM as a member as he was before ascending to the party's leadership.
"I believe we have a good chance as a political party. I don't know why people are looking at other people. Yet, we can just look at ourselves. We have been the hope of the people for a very long time. We still can be that hope of the people. I don't know why people within ODM themselves, even when they talk about presidential candidates, have forgotten that Mzee is still there," he said.
Why Sifuna apologised to Kenyans
At the same time, Sifuna appreciated the frustration faced by members of ODM who had earlier held the party in high regard.
He noted that millions of supporters identified with the ideals of the Orange party until lately, when it entered a working pact with Ruto's UDA.
Sifuna apologised to the masses over the confusion, promising to double his efforts to convince Raila to walk out on Ruto for ODM to regain its glory.
Source: TUKO.co.ke
