Wafula Buke: Why Sifuna will win his fight with Junet Mohamed
By Mabonga Makhanu, January 11, 20261992 second liberation fighter and former elections manager of the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) party Wafula Buke has stated that in the current tussle between Suna East MP Junet Mohammed and Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna, it is Sifuna who is likely to carry the day.
Speaking during an interview with political analyst Herman Manyora on his YouTube channel aired on Saturday, January 10, 2025, Buke said that Sifuna has the upper hand in the ongoing public spat, in which the two leaders have been trading sharp words.
According to Wafula Buke, the winner in the standoff will largely depend on who commands national appeal. He argued that in terms of national constituency and broader appeal, Edwin Sifuna would emerge as the winner.
However, in ODM’s traditional regional stronghold of Nyanza, Junet Mohammed is likely to retain dominance, albeit with some political space still going to Sifuna.
Buke further criticised Junet Mohammed, portraying him as being on the losing end of the dispute.
He claimed that Junet has often been associated with political projects that have failed, while Sifuna has repeatedly been called upon to clean up political messes linked to Junet’s actions.
“On Junet’s side, but with some slots for Sifuna, just like on the other side. The context between these two is that one has been associated with projects that have failed us not once, not twice.
“That is a disadvantage Junet has. He has been an associate of projects that have failed, while the other has been summoned time and again to step in and fight to rescue what has been lost,” Buke said.
Ida Odinga’s intervention
He further stated that despite Sifuna’s advantage in the public contest, which has escalated to levels that forced Raila Odinga’s spouse, Ida Odinga, to intervene, Junet Mohammed may still retain ODM’s regional stronghold.
Buke maintained that even if Sifuna wins the moral and national argument, Junet is likely to remain influential within ODM’s Nyanza base.
“Sifuna has a higher moral ground because he participates when there is a risk of loss, as opposed to someone who quietly collaborates and later emerges with deep pockets. Morally speaking, the winner has to be Sifuna,” he added.
Public outburst
This comes after days of push and pull between Edwin Sifuna and Junet Mohammed. Sifuna has openly opposed the direction ODM appears to be taking ahead of the 2027 general election, particularly any potential partnership with President William Ruto’s United Democratic Alliance (UDA).
Junet Mohammed, on the other hand, appears supportive of such a move, a disagreement that has fuelled their war of words.
ODM party leader Oburu Odinga has since stepped in to manage the fallout, holding separate meetings with the two leaders at his office.
PHOTO/@TheODMparty/X.
This intervention followed a call by Ida Odinga, who urged both factions to come together and reach a consensus in order to end the public spat and prevent divisions within the party.