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The Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) Secretary General Edwin Sifuna has come out to defend the opposition party, insisting that it has not joined the Kenya Kwanza government.

Speaking on Thursday, July 25, 2024, Sifuna indicated that the decision by a section of ODM members to accept cabinet nominations was not backed by the party.

According to Sifuna, ODM members including its two deputy party leaders; Ali Hassan Joho who has been nominated as CS Mining, Blue Economy and Maritime Affairs and Wycliffe Oparanya, Co-operatives and Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises CS nominee accepted the bid to join President William Ruto’s government on their capacities.

Defending the party, Sifuna indicated that there is no organ within ODM which okayed the decision to join the Kenya Kwanza government through a Cabinet position.

Sifuna pointed an accusing finger at the print media for pushing the narrative which he insisted is not true.

“We are being accused of miscommunication, prevaricating, double-speak, and being wishy-washy. The ODM Party has not become part of Ruto’s government,” Sifuna stated during an interview with a local TV station.

Further, Sifuna asserted that ODM will remain a pro-people party despite some of its big wigs including the deputy party leaders being nominated to serve in Ruto’s broad-based cabinet.

“The president has the authority to nominate anyone to his Cabinet. The priority areas for ODM have never changed; it is a pro-people party,” Sifuna remarked.

Nominees have no party blessings

Other stalwarts who were nominated to join President Ruto’s Cabinet include the Leader of the Minority in the National Assembly Opiyo Wandayi (Energy and Petroleum) and John Mbadi (National Treasury and Investments, Trade and Industry Economic Planning).

According to the ODM Secretary General, the leaders have not received blessings from the opposition party. However, he insisted that he wished them well in their dockets.

Nonetheless, Sifuna indicated that the new CS nominees picked from ODM will have to acquaint themselves with the Bottom-up Economic Transformation Agenda for them to perform as expected.

For instance, Sifuna noted that Mbadi will not reduce taxes imposed by the Kenya Kwanza government if approved by the Committee on Appointments unless they draft a new working framework which would enable him to implement tax-cutting measures.

“The CS nominees don’t have blessings from the ODM Party. I can assure you that Mbadi doesn’t understand the bottom-up transformative manifesto. Can John Mbadi reduce taxes as the Treasury Cabinet Secretary?” Sifuna posed.

ODM to issue statement

When asked if ODM will institute disciplinary actions against those nominated to cabinet, the Nairobi Senator stated that the party will convene a meeting and issue a statement explaining the way forward.

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