Sifuna: Nothing will stop ODM from removing Ruto from office

Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) Secretary General Edwin Sifuna has insisted that nothing can prevent the party from removing President William Ruto from office, despite the ongoing political cooperation between ODM and the Kenya Kwanza administration.

Speaking during an interview with Citizen TV, Sifuna dismissed claims that ODM exploited Gen Z-led protests for its own political advantage, arguing that the party’s initial plan after the June 24 demonstrations was to negotiate a transitional mechanism with Ruto to restore power to the people.

“After the protests of June 24, there was an impasse. We were frustrated. We kept asking ourselves: can these Gen Zs finish the job? They were to kick Ruto out,” he said.

“The accusation that we took advantage of anyone is unfair. Baba has been on record that he was against individual members joining the government. The idea at that time was to have a conversation with Ruto to establish a transitional mechanism that would restore the country back to the people.”

Sifuna noted that ODM’s democratic stance is anchored on the belief that leadership can be changed through elections or other democratic means, but warned that under the current regime, many Kenyans risk losing their lives before the next general election in 2027.

“If this regime killed over 40 people on Saba Saba, and with 800 days to go to the election, 40 multiplied by 800 is 32,000. That’s 32,000 people who may die before 2027 under the guns of this regime. Those people will not get an opportunity to kick William Ruto out,” Sifuna said.

He criticised the government’s handling of protests, slamming President Ruto for authorising police brutality against demonstrators.

“When you have a head of state telling the Kenyan police, who have a history of violence, that they are allowed to shoot people, and his allies like Nelson Koech saying, in fact, don’t shoot in the legs, shoot to kill, those instructions trickle down to junior officers. If we don’t find another way, we will lose more lives before 2027,” he said.

Sifuna also dismissed suggestions that he has been in direct communication with President Ruto regarding the ongoing political arrangement between ODM and Kenya Kwanza, saying: “I don’t even have Ruto’s number. He can’t call me.”

Responding to Ruto’s public remarks that ODM founders should reprimand him for his critical stance, Sifuna said the party has no such organ.

“There’s no organ of ODM called founders. ODM is a mass movement, not just leaders. The disciplinary committee, chaired by Ramadan Abubakar, who coincidentally celebrates his birthday today, are the only people who can discipline me,” he said.

He defended his leadership, noting that he is the longest-serving Secretary General of ODM, now in his eighth year.

“I wouldn’t feel bad if the party decided to give the opportunity to someone else. But for now, I continue to serve,” he said.

Sifuna admitted that the party’s association with Kenya Kwanza had created confusion among members and supporters but said ODM’s core values remain intact.

“If you are in a church choir and start spending time with women of the night, your values will be compromised. That’s the confusion I am referring to,” he said.

“I believe Raila Odinga still holds ODM’s core principles, but the proximity to UDA is blurring the lines.”

He apologised to ODM members over the mixed signals.

“I’ve taken the opportunity to apologise to members for the confusion. We as the leadership have to take responsibility,” he said.

He argued that ODM has not breached the Memorandum of Understanding, accusing the Kenya Kwanza side of failing to uphold human rights during protests.

Pressed about ODM members who joined government as Cabinet Secretaries, Sifuna pointed out that those appointed were senior politicians nearing the end of their careers. He maintained that their appointments were personal decisions, not sanctioned by ODM as a party.

“Look at the profile of those who accepted the jobs, people who have done two terms as governors, multiple terms as MPs, and even served as Cabinet Secretaries before,” he said.

“Baba himself was against individual members joining government. These people were called individually. There was no ODM-UDA negotiation on who should be appointed.”

Sifuna stressed that despite the political cooperation, the party’s commitment to challenging Ruto’s presidency remains unchanged.

“Even today, nothing stops anyone, including those in Cabinet, from deciding they’ve had enough and joining efforts to remove this regime,” he said.