SIFUNA HINTS AT FACING RUTO IN 2027, - "TUTASHINDA KURA MAPEMA."

Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) Secretary-General Edwin Sifuna has taken direct aim at President William Ruto, saying the Head of State should brace for a tough political battle in 2027.

Sifuna was responding to Ruto’s recent remarks that his only worthy rival was the late former Prime Minister Raila Odinga. The ODM Secretary-General dismissed the claim as arrogant and misplaced, declaring that Ruto will be “shocked” when ODM unveils its presidential candidate for the next General Election.

Addressing ODM delegates’ in Mombasa on Saturday, November 1, Sifuna reiterated Raila Odinga’s earlier hint of ODM fielding its presidential contender ahead of 2027, insisting that the party is stronger and more united than the President imagines.

“Sai kila mtu akona mambo yake, anasema baba aliniambia hivi, baba alisema vile lakini ile tunaweza kubaliana ni yale alituambia sisi sote. Tukiwa wazi mbele ya umma, baba alisema tunajitayarisha kwa ajili ya uchaguzi wa 2027 tuweze kutoa candidate wetu. Najua hakuna jambo inaweza wekwa mbele yetu itushinde. Tukiamua tunasimamisha party leader wetu, tutashinda uchaguzi, tukisema SG ndo asimame, tunashinda kura asubuhi na mapema,” Sifuna stated.
Which loosely translates; “Right now, everyone has their own version of what Raila told them, but what we all agree on is what he told us collectively — to prepare for 2027 and field our own candidate. Nothing can stand in our way. If we choose to field our party leader, we will win; if we decide the SG should run, we’ll still win early in the morning.”

Sifuna dismissed claims that only Raila Odinga could have challenged Ruto effectively, insisting that Raila had already mentored a potent crew that would be able to extend his political legacy into the future.

“Naskia kuna watu wanazunguka wakisema ni baba pekee angeweza kuwaangusha kwa uchaguzi. Kuna mjumbe ametuambia, mtoto wa simba ni simba. Watashangaa sana,” he added.
Going as; "I hear some people saying only Raila could have beaten them in an election. But as one of our members said, the cub of a lion is still a lion — they’ll be very surprised.”

The Nairobi Senator further clarified that the ongoing dialogue between ODM and President Ruto’s United Democratic Alliance (UDA) is not a political merger, but rather a structured conversation aimed at national stability.

He insisted that ODM remains independent and that no talks will compromise the party’s identity or its 2027 ambitions.

“We are yet to agree on how to move forward in 2027, and it will not be left to a few people,” Sifuna further cautioned ODM members against misusing the upcoming November 27 by-election campaigns to promote “two-term” slogans or premature succession politics.

Turning to regional affairs, Sifuna condemned alleged police brutality in Tanzania, where protesters calling for electoral reforms were reportedly injured.

“Mambo ambayo tunayaona Tanzania, ni ya kusikitisha… ugonjwa wa kukandamiza wanademokrasia, ni jukumu letu kusema hapana, kwa kuwa ni rahisi sana ugonjwa huo kuvuka border,” Sifuna warned urging Kenyans to be proactive against any traces of autocracy.
(“What we are witnessing in Tanzania is tragic… the disease of suppressing democrats must be confronted, because it can easily cross our borders.”)

Sifuna 's remarks were a direct jab at President Ruto, who had earlier exuded confidence that no current opposition figure could challenge him in 2027.

“Ati wale watu nashindana nao ni wale? Yani mtu ningeshindana na yeye ni Raila lakini hawa. Nitawamalizia asubuhi na mapema… Ni kwa sababu hawana mpango, " Ruto said during a tour in Western Kenya on October 30.

This translating as; “Are these really the people I’m competing with? The only person worth running against would have been Raila. I’ll finish these others early in the morning — they have no plan.”

With Sifuna’s fiery response, the stage now appears set for an early showdown — a bold signal that ODM is gearing up to challenge Ruto’s hold on power and reshape Kenya’s political landscape ahead of the 2027 elections.Could this express Sifuna's hint at possibilities of being ODM's flag bearer? But, will pro- broad-based government members back the bid ?