Nairobi Senator and ODM Secretary General Edwin Sifuna has defended his decision to skip President William Ruto’s recent tour of Nairobi County, stating that there was no obligation in the recently signed agreement between ODM and UDA that required his attendance.

Speaking during the burial of veteran pilot James Nguyo Gitahi on March 15, 2025, Sifuna expressed frustration with media reports suggesting that he had snubbed the President’s city tour, describing such headlines as misleading.

“After signing those documents, I knew some people would claim things that aren’t in the agreement. One day I woke up to headlines claiming ‘Sifuna has fled from the President’s Nairobi meeting,'” Sifuna said.

The ODM Secretary General clarified that the political cooperation agreement between ODM leader Raila Odinga and President Ruto did not include provisions mandating his presence at presidential functions.

“Nowhere in that agreement does it say the ODM Secretary General must attend meetings with the President. Nowhere does it say that a senator elected on a UDA ticket must be present when Raila Odinga has his meeting,” he explained.

Sifuna pointed out what he perceives as double standards, noting that UDA officials are not similarly criticized for missing Raila’s events.

“I saw Honorable Raila was in Kiambu for Waiyaki’s funeral, but I didn’t see UDA’s Secretary General there, because the agreement doesn’t address such matters,” he stated.

The senator added that President Ruto himself understands this distinction, recalling that he had heard the President tell Nairobi residents that everyone should focus on their respective responsibilities.

“The President himself knows this. I heard him telling Nairobi people that everyone should do their job. I won’t be elected based on how many meetings I’ve attended with the President. My work is in the Senate and I’ll do it, while he does his. In 2027, citizens will decide,” Sifuna stated.

Holding Ruto accountable

Regarding his role following the signing of the agreement, Sifuna described himself as holding a ‘marking scheme’ to ensure compliance with the ten-point agenda outlined in the document.

“My job is very simple. I just keep the marking scheme, since there are ten agenda items there. If any Kenyan is abducted by police and hidden somewhere, UDA and its leader William Ruto will have violated the agreement we’ve registered,” he said.

Sifuna emphasized that his focus remains on ensuring accountability, particularly regarding police actions and compensation for families who lost loved ones during protests.

“If Kenya’s police don’t take responsibility and compensate families of those who lost their lives according to the agreement, Ruto and his UDA party will have violated our agreement. That’s my only job—there’s no other work except ensuring they follow what we agreed upon,” he concluded.