Nairobi, Kenya – July 23, 2024
The Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) is embroiled in a deepening crisis, with its Secretary General, Edwin Sifuna, admitting that the party is struggling with internal contradictions and confusion. The Nairobi Senator made the startling revelations during an interview on Citizen TV’s The Explainer on Tuesday night, where he confessed that even he, as the party’s chief administrator, can no longer clearly articulate ODM’s stance on key national issues.
His remarks have sparked fierce backlash, including from fellow party member Robert Alai, the outspoken Kileleshwa MCA, who took to Twitter (now X) to mock Sifuna, accusing him of incompetence and political opportunism.
Sifuna’s Shocking Admission: “ODM is Confused”
In a rare moment of candor, Edwin Sifuna laid bare the fractures within ODM, Kenya’s once-dominant opposition party. He admitted that the party’s messaging has become disjointed, with members sending mixed signals by aligning with rival political formations, including President William Ruto’s Kenya Kwanza government.
“Right now, there is a lot of confusion,” Sifuna said. “There was a time when it was very easy to be the SG of ODM… You could wake me up in the middle of the night and ask me anything because we agreed that you can compromise on tactics, but you can never compromise on your values.”
He lamented that ODM’s core principles—such as devolution, protest rights under Article 37, and constitutional freedoms—are now being questioned even by its own members.
“When you hear a member of ODM proposing a bill to limit protest rights, what is ODM without Article 37? Without street protests? ODM is a movement built on the strength of the people,” he said.
“I Apologize to ODM Members” – Sifuna
The Nairobi Senator issued a public apology to ODM supporters, blaming the party’s leadership—including himself—for failing to present a unified front.
“I want to apologize to members of ODM for all the confusion we as a leadership have caused,” he said. “It is very difficult right now to discern the position of ODM on major issues. And that is the biggest sadness—because it should be easy.”
Sifuna also revealed that he had declined to join a team reviewing the controversial Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between ODM and UDA, declaring the deal “dead” following the killing of teacher and blogger Albert Ojwang in police custody.
“On the day that Albert Ojwang dies in a police cell, to me, this agreement is dead,” he declared. “I am not a mortician.”
Despite the turmoil, Sifuna insisted he would not resign, vowing to fight to restore ODM’s former glory.
Robert Alai’s Scathing Attack on Sifuna
Shortly after the interview, Kileleshwa MCA Robert Alai—a vocal ODM member—launched a blistering attack on Sifuna via Twitter (X), accusing him of incompetence and political hypocrisy.
In a post that quickly went viral, Alai wrote:
“Sifuna has two problems. In fact, they are three. He chose Yvonne his playmate to interview him because he knows that such an interview would be shallow.
Secondly, he is bitter with Ruto because the President refused to pay him Ksh 50 million he demanded to be part of the broad-based government.
Why should Sifuna be paid to support an idea? Anyone loyal to money isn’t loyal to any cause.
Third, he thinks that his primary role is oversighting Ruto and bitching over him 24/7. He has never seen anything wrong with the Nairobi City County government.
Only fools interview some of these people. Just complete fools. @YvonneOkwara you can do better.”
The remarks have ignited a fresh political storm, with netizens divided over whether Alai’s criticism was justified or merely an attempt to undermine a fellow party member.
Alai’s Additional Jabs: “ODM Website Hasn’t Changed Since Nyong’o’s Time”
In subsequent tweets, Robert Alai further criticized Sifuna’s leadership, claiming that the ODM Secretary General had failed to modernize the party.
“Even the ODM website remains unchanged since Prof. Anyang’ Nyong’o’s tenure,” Alai tweeted. “How can you lead a party in 2024 with a website that looks like it’s from 2007?”
His comments reflect growing frustration among some ODM members who feel the party has lost direction since its leader, Raila Odinga, entered into a political truce with President Ruto.
ODM’s Identity Crisis: Between Opposition and Government Collaboration
Sifuna’s interview and Alai’s Twitter outburst highlight the deep divisions within ODM, which has struggled to define its role after Raila Odinga softened his opposition stance.
Several high-profile ODM figures, including former Mombasa Governor Hassan Joho and Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja, have been accused of cozying up to Ruto’s administration, further muddying the party’s ideological clarity.
Sifuna acknowledged this dilemma, stating:
“You see a member of ODM who used to be in a premier position, now he is the Cabinet Secretary, and it leaves our supporters very confused.”
Will ODM Survive the Crisis?
Despite the turmoil, Sifuna remains defiant, insisting that ODM’s grassroots support—over 5 million registered members—remains its strongest asset.
“ODM as an institution has existed for more than 20 years, and you cannot just give up and quit,” he said.
However, with critics like Robert Alai openly mocking his leadership and the party’s direction increasingly unclear, the question remains: Can ODM reclaim its former influence, or is it heading toward irrelevance?
For now, the battle lines are drawn—between those like Sifuna who believe the party can be salvaged and detractors like Alai who see it as a sinking ship.
Public Reaction: Kenyans Weigh In
The fallout from Sifuna’s interview and Alai’s tweets has dominated Kenyan social media, with hashtags like #ODMCrisis and #SifunaVsAlai trending.
Some users defended Sifuna:
“At least Sifuna is honest about ODM’s problems. Alai is just bitter.”
Others sided with Alai:
“Sifuna is part of the problem. He should resign if he can’t fix ODM.”
As the debate rages, one thing is clear: ODM’s future hangs in the balance, and its leaders must act fast to prevent a total collapse.
Key Takeaways:
- Edwin Sifuna admits ODM is in chaos, struggling with internal contradictions.
- Robert Alai attacks Sifuna on Twitter, accusing him of incompetence and greed.
- Sifuna declares the ODM-UDA MoU “dead” after the death of Albert Ojwang.
- ODM faces an identity crisis as some leaders collaborate with Ruto’s government.
- The party’s future remains uncertain amid growing public and internal dissent.
Will ODM survive this storm, or is this the beginning of its downfall? Only time will tell.
Follow us for more updates on this developing story.
