Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) Secretary General Edwin Sifuna has revealed new details on the scale of retired President Uhuru Kenyatta’s financial and logistical support to Raila Odinga’s 2022 presidential campaign.

Speaking on Saturday, January 3, 2026, during the burial ceremony of Embakasi North MP James Gakuya’s mother, Alice Wangari Gakuya, Sifuna stated that Uhuru played a central role in financing ODM’s campaign machinery, particularly in the Mt Kenya region, where Raila recorded an unprecedented performance compared to previous elections.

“Kwa mara ya kwanza mheshimiwa Raila Odinga alizoa kura zaidi ya milioni moja kutoka kwa hii mlima. Na ndio maana mliona nikipigia Uhuru Kenyatta asante. Mlitusukuma, lakini alitusaidia. Wengine walikula pesa ya Uhuru Kenyatta sawa sawa,” Sifuna said, attributing the breakthrough directly to Uhuru’s backing.

Political goodwill

He noted that Kenya’s 4th president not only mobilised political goodwill but also provided substantial financial resources that powered campaign operations across the region.

According to Sifuna, Uhuru’s support was both material and strategic, enabling ODM to fund rallies, logistics, and grassroots mobilisation.

He asserted that a significant portion of the campaign funds used by ODM originated from Uhuru Kenyatta, describing the support as open, deliberate, and critical to the campaign’s competitiveness.

“Mimi najua kama katibu mkuu wa ODM, pesa mingi ambayo tulifanyia kampeni ilikuwa inatoka kwa Uhuru Kenyatta. Alitusupport, kwa hali na mali, ni ukweli,” Sifuna said.

Sifuna further suggested that mismanagement of campaign resources contributed to Raila’s narrow loss in the 2022 General Election. He alleged that funds meant to facilitate polling agents and protect votes were not fully deployed as intended, leaving ODM vulnerable on election day.

Sifuna’s apology to Uhuru

Sifuna’s latest remarks come days after he publicly apologised to Uhuru over attacks directed at him by a section of the ODM party bigwigs.

Speaking during the burial ceremony of the late former Lugari MP Cyrus Jirongo that was attended by Uhuru, the Nairobi senator said some ODM leaders are being ungrateful for the role Uhuru played in 2022 when the then ODM leader, the late Raila Odinga, contested for the presidency.

“Mheshimiwa Uhuru Kenyatta, leo ni tarehe thelathini mwezi wa kumi na mbili mwaka wa 2025, kwa sababu mimi bado ndo katibu mkuu wa chama, mimi bado ndo msemaji wa ODM. Nataka kwa niaba ya chama cha ODM nikuombe msamaha kwa matusi ambayo unaelekezewa na baadhi ya viongozi wa ODM, ambao wamesahau kazi ambayo ulifanya ya kumsaidia Baba (Raila Odinga) awe rais,” Sifuna said.