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Sifuna: ODM-UDA deal promises unmet

Sifuna: ODM-UDA deal promises unmet
Nairobi Senator and embattled ODM Secretary General Edwin Sifuna during the launch of People’s report. PHOTO/https://www.facebook.com/EdwinWSifuna

The embattled Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) Secretary General Edwin Sifuna has jolted the government, accusing it of misleading Kenyans over the implementation of the 10-point agenda agreed between President William Ruto and Raila Odinga, saying key promises under the deal remain unmet.

Speaking on Wednesday, March 11, 2026, during the launch of a counter report, the Nairobi senator said the committee tasked with overseeing implementation of the agreement had failed to fulfil its mandate and instead attempted to create the impression that progress had been made.

Sifuna said the committee was expected to release its final comprehensive report on March 7, 2026, the same day the agreement was set to expire.

However, he noted that the report was not made public as expected for the citizens and interested parties to scrutinise and evaluate what progress has been made, whether they benefit or it is just for a few leaders who serve their vested interests.

“Last Saturday, March 7, 2026, was the day on which the committee overseeing the implementation of the 10-point agenda was expected to release its final comprehensive report. As Kenyans now know, that did not happen,” he said.

President William Ruto leading the the ODM - UDA Joint Broad-based Parliament Group Meeting on Tuesday, March 10, 2026 at the KICC. PHOTO/@TheODMparty/X
President William Ruto leading the the ODM – UDA Joint Broad-based Parliament Group Meeting on Tuesday, March 10, 2026 at the KICC. PHOTO/@TheODMparty/X

Sifuna jabs committee

Despite blots from Ruto and his allies, Sifuna has maintained that the committee’s mandate was clearly defined from the outset, including a requirement to submit progress reports every two months and a final report by the agreed deadline.

“When they were appointed, it was stated in plain English that they would present progress reports every two months with a final report on March 7, 2026. Their sole mission was to ensure implementation of the 10 items and deliver a final report on that date,” he said.

According to Sifuna, the events witnessed during the release of the report created confusion over the status of the agreement and whether its commitments had actually been implemented.

Junet Mohammed and other UDA and ODM leaders during the joint Parliamentary Group meeting at KICC. PHOTO/@JunetMohamed/X
Junet Mohammed and other UDA and ODM leaders during the joint Parliamentary Group meeting at KICC. PHOTO/@JunetMohamed/X

He also questioned the decision to extend the mandate of the committee by an additional 60 days, arguing that the move was not supported by the party’s constitutional structures.

“We want to make it clear that the ODM parliamentary group has no powers under the party constitution to make decisions such as they purported to make. The purported extension is therefore unconstitutional and void,” Sifuna said.

He maintained that whether the agreement had been implemented should not be a matter of speculation, arguing that Kenyans would easily notice changes if the commitments had been fulfilled.

“If abductions and extrajudicial killings stopped after the signing of the MoU, we would all know because we all live here. If counties had received Ksh450 billion in the current financial year, we would know. If the government had honoured its pledge to respect the identity and integrity of political parties, it would be obvious to all,” he said.

President William Ruto and the late Raila Odinga during the signing of the Kenya Kwanza-ODM Joint Framework at KICC, Nairobi on March 7, 2025. PHOTO/@https://www.facebook.com/williamsamoei

Govt’s handball?

He said Linda Mwanainchi had prepared what they described as a truth report, outlining failures in the implementation of the 10-point agenda.

“Today we wish to present to Kenyans the truth report detailing the failures in the implementation of the 10-point agenda, breaking down each item and the falsehoods used to wrap them,” Sifuna said.

Furthermore, he questioned the committee’s decision to conduct public participation forums across the country towards the end of its mandate, arguing that responsibility for implementing the agenda rested with the government.

“Our expectation was that the committee would be seeking answers directly from the government on a daily basis rather than travelling across the country purporting to conduct public participation,” he said.

Sifuna said the report presented by the group aimed to highlight what they described as gaps in the implementation process and to hold the government accountable to the commitments made under the agreement.

“We present this report to seal any gaps that may be used to mislead Kenyans that all is well in our nation. The country must confront these failures and hold the government accountable on each count,” he said.

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