ODM IS STILL IN AZIMIO - SIFUNA

Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna has again launched a scathing attack on President William Ruto’s administration, accusing it of frustrating Kenya’s devolution system and suppressing political dissent.

Addressing residents in Kitui County on Saturday, August 9, 2025, Sifuna alleged that the national government under President Ruto had become the biggest obstacle to effective devolution.
“The greatest enemy of devolution today is the national government led by President William Ruto. The biggest problem in this country is at State House,” he told the gathering.

Sifuna who doubles as the ODM Secretary-General stressed that his political priority was not contesting the Nairobi governorship but rather ensuring Kenya gets a president who genuinely supports devolution.

“My biggest goal is not to become a governor. My goal is to make sure we have a president who believes in devolution,” he added.

Sifuna also controversially termed ODM as part of the Azimio la Umoja alliance, despite their alliance with the rival Kenya Kwanza - which saw the Azimio alliance being declared dead.

“ODM and Wiper remain part of one coalition — Azimio. I recognize Kalonzo Musyoka as my leader in the coalition, and Wiper members as our partners,” Sifuna clarified, emphasizing his loyalty to Azimio and voicing support for the Wiper Party leader Kalonzo Musyoka.

His comments come against the backdrop of contrasting signals within Azimio, with ODM party leader Raila Odinga recently expressing openness to working with President Ruto’s Kenya Kwanza administration.

Surprisingly, Raila Odinga — Sifuna’s mentor and party leader — was quoted a day earlier at an event honouring the late veteran women’s rights champion Phoebe Asiyo in Homa Bay County, where he defended ODM’s decision to cooperate with the government.

“I have no doubt — make as much noise as you want — we will move beyond 2027. Nobody should try to threaten us,” Raila said.

In what can seemingly be termed as an insurgence against the ODM - UDA pact, Sifuna has been critical of the same, from declaring the ODM - UDA Memorandum of Understanding dead to public dismissal of Ruto's administration.

Sifuna’s hard-hitting remarks reflect deepening political divisions over the future of the ODM -UDA coalition and the trajectory of devolution under the current administration.