President William Ruto has fired back at Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) Secretary General Edwin Sifuna, reminding him of his place in the history of the party and cautioning him over recent remarks made against the presidency.

Speaking at the funeral of George Odour, Raila Odinga’s longtime bodyguard in Siaya County on Saturday, April 12, 2025, Ruto called out Sifuna for what he described as disrespectful comments.

The president did not hold back, warning the Nairobi senator to watch his tone when addressing matters related to him.

Ruto reminded Sifuna that he was one of the original founders of ODM and still holds influence within the party. He warned that continued criticism could prompt him to rally other founding members to take disciplinary action against him.

“Nimesikia Sifuna anaongea na nguvu. Wakati unaongea mambo yangu, Sifuna, ujue mimi ni muanzilishi wa ODM, so unaenda pole pole kidogo. Sisi ndio tulianza hii kitu. Na unajua, ukinisukuma sana, nitaitisha mkutano ya founding fathers wa ODM. Tunaweza kukufanyia discipline sisi ambao tulianzisha chama,” Ruto stated.

Loosely translated as;

“I’ve heard Sifuna speaking forcefully. When you’re talking about my issues, Sifuna, you should know that I am a founding member of ODM, so take it a bit easy. We are the ones who started this thing. And you know, if you push me too far, I will call a meeting of the founding fathers of ODM. We, who founded the party, can discipline you.”

Sifuna to Ruto

This came after Sifuna publicly condemned how the government handled the recent drama festival debacle involving Butere Girls High School.

The school’s play, Echoes of War, was initially blocked from being performed at the national drama festivals in Nakuru. The play, which tells a story about a fictional kingdom and youth disillusionment with leadership, sparked nationwide debate, especially after reports emerged of police using teargas and force to stop the students.

Sifuna called on President Ruto to take action against members of his government who, he said, were undermining his leadership by creating unnecessary chaos.

“Kuna watu kwa serikali yako kazi yao ni kushika handball kila siku. Sasa kama hii drama yote tumeona Nakuru, ati watoto wanakatazwa kufanya mchezo, sijui wanapigwa teargas, sijui wanafukuzwa, hiyo ni mwiba wa kujidunga. Mheshimiwa Rais, wale wanafanya kazi yako ikuwe ngumu, read them the Riot Act kwa sababu tunajua kazi yako ni ngumu; wasifanye ikuwe ngumu zaidi,” Sifuna stated.

Loosely translated as;

“There are people in your government whose main work is touching handballs every day. For instance the drama we witnessed in Nakuru, where students were barred from performing a play and later teargassed, is a self-inflicted pain. For those making your more difficult as already is, read to them the Riot Act.”