Sifuna reveals reasons differences in ODM spill out
By Joel Masibo, January 7, 2026The Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) Party Secretary General Edwin Sifuna has opened up on the reasons why ideological differences in the political outfit often spills into the public.
Speaking while marking what would have been the late ODM leader Raila Odinga’s 81st birthday at his Bondo home in Siaya County on Wednesday, January 7, 2026, the Nairobi Senator said sometimes it gets hot, and as human nature dictates, it leads to the explosion of emotions that contributes to the public spat as it is being witnessed.
Sifuna has been engaging in a war of words with a section of ODM leaders, among them Suna East Member of Parliament Junet Mohamed, on matters of ODM’s future heading into the 2027 general election and the current broad-based government formation between the party and President William Ruto’s Kenya Kwanza regime.
Public spat
”The only reason sometimes it spills out, we are also human beings. Sometimes mambo inachemkanga na ni mbaya saa ingine. Mimi nakumbuka, Baba used to consult everyone,” Sifuna said.
Following the internal wrangles rocking ODM, Sifuna has vowed to keep Raila Odinga’s promise of not wrecking the party he founded 20 years ago.
Keeping Raila’s promise
”As I said at Mzee’s burial, it will not be me to wreck Mzee’s party, it will not be Sifuna. I made that promise to Mzee, and I want to repeat it here. I want to tell you, there is no one in ODM, it doesn’t matter how many times or how badly you have insulted me, there is no one in ODM I will not sit down with. You have asked us to sit and talk. I am very prepared; it doesn’t matter what has happened between us. I am going to extend that olive branch,” Sifuna added.
Edwin Sifuna also called for room to allow people mourn Raila Odinga, who died on Wednesday, October 15, 2025, while undergoing treatment in India.
”Baba belonged to a lot of people. I have given you my excuse why I have not come back to Kang’o. We need to create space for other people to also mourn Mzee. We will not hog his grave, we will allow other people who also loved Mzee to come and mourn with you. You have done that with a lot of strength. I don’t honestly know how you’ve been able to do it.” The Nairobi County Senator said.