Sifuna reignites clash with Ruto over party discipline and membership
By Ascah Mwango, July 22, 2025Edwin Sifuna has once again locked horns with President William Ruto over his association with the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) and party leadership.
Speaking during an interview on a local TV station on Tuesday, July 22, 2025, the ODM Secretary General dismissed claims that President Ruto is a founding member of ODM and insisted that the president has no power to discipline him.
“Nobody should threaten me with ‘founder member’ status,” Sifuna said.
Adding;
“There is no organ of ODM called ‘founders’, and President Ruto is not a member of the party. Only the disciplinary committee can discipline me, not William Ruto.”
Ruto vs Sifuna
Sifuna’s remarks come months after President Ruto warned him to watch his tone while commenting on matters related to the presidency.
The president had made the comments on April 12, 2025, while attending the funeral of George Odour, Raila Odinga’s longtime bodyguard, in Siaya County. During his speech, Ruto reminded Sifuna that he was one of the founders of ODM and cautioned him against continued criticism.
“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,” Ruto stated.
Ruto’s remarks were triggered by Sifuna’s criticism of the government over the way it handled the national drama festival involving Butere Girls High School.
The school’s play, Echoes of War, was initially blocked from being performed during the national drama festivals held in Nakuru. The play, which told a fictional story about a troubled kingdom and youth dissatisfaction with leadership, sparked national debate after reports emerged that police had used teargas and force to stop the students from performing.
Sifuna publicly condemned the incident and accused certain government officials of working against the president by creating unnecessary drama.
“There are people in your government whose main work is touching handballs every day,” Sifuna said.
Adding;
“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 work more difficult as it already is, read to them the Riot Act.”