Sifuna Sparks Alarm Over ODM’s Future by Questioning Alliance with Ruto

Could Kenya’s biggest opposition party, ODM, be sleepwalking into political disaster in 2027? According to the party’s Secretary General, Edwin Sifuna, the answer is yes—if it doesn’t rethink its cooperation with President William Ruto’s coalition. During a candid interview on July 22, Sifuna didn’t mince his words: supporting Ruto all the way up to election day might cripple ODM's chances of mounting a real challenge next time voters go to the polls.

Sifuna made it clear that ODM’s aspiration is to field its own presidential contender. But he argued that the current partnership with Kenya Kwanza, Ruto’s political machine, is making it difficult for ODM to prepare or convince the public why it's cozying up to the very administration it should be challenging. He doesn’t want the party caught flat-footed, still explaining itself, just as the real campaign should be heating up.

His comments come as a direct challenge to party leader Raila Odinga, who remains set on supporting Ruto until 2027. While Sifuna acknowledged Raila’s big-picture role, he pointed out that internal debate is part of the party’s DNA, and warned that lack of clarity could cost them dearly. For Sifuna, political time wasted is nearly impossible to claw back, especially when the race for State House is as fierce as ever.

Cracks Within ODM: Division Over the Ruto Strategy

Sifuna’s warnings haven’t gone unnoticed—his bluntness is lighting a fire under younger ODM members who have been uneasy about the partnership all along. Many of them don’t see the strategic payoff that party old-guard claim will come from getting close to Ruto. Instead, they're asking: are we morphing into the government rather than acting as a critical opposition?

Besides sparking internal debates, Sifuna fired some shots at the wider political field. He said former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua—who’s been mired in legal trouble and talk of impeachment—doesn’t stand a chance in 2027. But there’s a twist: Sifuna actually sees Gachagua’s headline-hungry moves as indirectly helpful to ODM. Why? Because these antics could fracture Ruto’s own backyard of supporters and peel away backing from Kenya Kwanza—a potential gift for ODM come election day.

Inside ODM, Sifuna’s remarks highlight a growing generation gap. Young members worry that by hitching their wagon to Ruto, they’re losing their chance to stand out to voters hungry for change. The older, more pragmatic leaders, meanwhile, tend to see the alliance as a way to survive and stay relevant during a turbulent cycle.

This tension is already creating ripples throughout the party. There’s a risk that, if ODM doesn't pick a side—either striking out as a bold opposition or sticking with their government partnership—they’ll end up with a muddled message no one buys. Sifuna’s challenge is plain: reclaim an independent voice now, or risk being drowned out when the fiercest political contest returns in 2027.