Sifuna warns ODM officials against pro-Ruto chants in party campaigns
By Luke Oluoch, November 1, 2025Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) Secretary General Edwin Sifuna has cautioned party officials against invoking the ‘two-term’ chant during party campaigns for the upcoming by-elections on November 27, 2025.
Speaking during the ODM party meeting in Mombasa on November 1, 2025, the secretary general dismissed the chant associated with the proponents of President William Ruto’s reelection bid.
According to the senator, ODM resorted to maintaining its unity with the direction the party would take in the 2027 polls, yet to be decided.
No presidential elections
“The coming by-election is for the members of the County Assemblies and MPs. There is no presidential election, so I want to tell the people campaigning for our candidates not to bring up two-term chants in our campaigns,” he added.
His remarks come after he equally dismissed the existence of the pre-election collaboration between the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) and his Orange party to present a united front in the upcoming mini-polls.
The Secretary General reiterated the call that the party retain its identity, clarifying that the broad-based arrangement is not a party nor does it have candidates.
Broad-based is not a party
“The pact we made with UDA did not constitute a coalition agreement. I hear people going around saying there are broad-based candidates in the by-elections. Broad-based is not a party, and therefore, it has no candidates,” he said.
The senator asserted that ODM will enter the polls as a single entity with its symbol and candidates.
Sifuna linked the chants to taking a premature stance on the party’s stance on the coming 2027 polls, warning that the decision rests on the top leadership.
“We sat down as the central committee and agreed that we have not decided how the party will approach the 2027 polls. That decision will be made by the top leadership. So, to those who want to bring confusion, if you have issues about 2027, wait first. The ODM members will decide on how the party will head to the polls,” he stated.