MP Caleb Amisi endorses Edwin Sifuna for ODM party leadership as Raila campaigns for AUC chairmanship

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Tuesday, September 10, 2024
8:03 am

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Saboti Member of Parliament (MP) Caleb Amisi has endorsed Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna to take over as Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) party leader when Raila Odinga will exit to focus on his African Union Commission chairmanship campaigns.

Amisi who took to his official X account on Tuesday, September 10, 2024, stated that the ODM Secretary General should serve as the Orange party leader, to hold brief for Raila as he tours several African countries to campaign.

ODM youthful leadership

According to Amisi, Siaya county governor James Orengo should be appointed to chair a supreme council of elders that will form advisory to the Orange party.

The ODM lawmakers argues that the ODM party is ripe for youthful leadership.

Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna, Raila Odinga and other ODM members. PHOTO/@TheODMparty/X

He goes ahead to state that rejuvenation of the Kenya’s opposition outfit, which he terms as Africa’s biggest democratic party, lies in the freshness, energy, charisma, enthusiasm and dedication of its youthful supporters.

“It is my considered view that Edwin Sifuna should serve as party leader to hold brief for baba as he campaigns for the coveted continental post while James Orengo to chair a supreme council of Elders that will form advisory to the party. The ODM party is ripe for youthful blood . The rejuvenation of Africa’s biggest democratic party lies in the freshness, energy, charisma ,enthusiasm and dedication of its youthful supporters!” the lawmaker stated.

It is my considered view that @edwinsifuna should serve as party leader to hold brief for baba as he campaigns for the coveted continental post while @orengo_james to chair a supreme council of Elders that will form advisory to the party. @TheODMparty is ripe for youthful blood .…
— Hon. Caleb Amisi, MP (@Honcalebamisi) September 10, 2024

Raila announced his exit from local politics after President William Ruto officially launched his AUC chairmanship candidature.

Speculations of a section of ODM members salivating for Raila’s position in the party emerged, with a local daily reporting that the former Prime Minister had exited as the Orange party leader.

ODM’s position

However, Sifuna dismissed the reports, maintaining that Raila had not left as ODM party leader.

In a statement published on Thursday, September 5, 2024, Sifuna stated that an article published by a local daily was false and misleading.

President William Ruto and Raila Odinga. PHOTO/@HusseinMohamedg/X

Additionally, Sifuna stated categorically that neither Raila nor ODM have announced the former Prime Minister’s exit and retirement from party leadership.

“We wish to register our strong disagreement with and disapproval of a weird story published by Daily Nation today that attempts to write a political obituary of Party Leader Raila Odinga while at the same time inciting non-existent rivalries for Odinga’s position,” Sifuna said.

“Several times, Raila Odinga has informed the country that he will be presenting himself for election to the position of chairman of the African Union Commission during elections to be held in February 2025. As matters stand now, neither Odinga nor ODM have announced his exit and retirement from party leadership.”