Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna has clarified his reasons for consistently avoiding events attended by President William Ruto and Deputy Rigathi Gachagua in Nairobi County.
Sifuna revealed that he refrains from participating in such gatherings because he refuses to sit through speeches where every speaker at the podium directs abusive language towards his political party and its leader, Raila Odinga.
In a radio interview on Tuesday, the Senator elaborated on his stance, emphasizing that the current administration often employs tactics to manipulate public perception. He asserted that this is why they frequently invite leaders from other parties to accompany them at events.
“As the secretary general of the party, how can I sit in a meeting where every speaker hurls insults at Baba (Raila Odinga) and the ODM party? My blood boils quickly, and I cannot sit and listen to you berate my party and its leader while applauding your remarks. Subsequently, media reports will suggest that the president was joined by leaders from all political parties, including the ODM secretary general. They are well aware of the psychological impact on the public,” Sifuna expressed on Radio 47.
Senator Sifuna has consistently abstained from attending events featuring President William Ruto in the county, even when they pertain to development projects that have attracted several opposition party leaders.
Meanwhile, Sifuna warned Lang’ata MP Felix Odiwuor, popularly known as Jalang’o, regarding his potential departure from the ODM party.
During an interview on Radio 47 on Tuesday, Sifuna advised Jalang’o that if he decides to quit ODM, he might as well bid farewell to his Lang’ata parliamentary seat.
“I want to advise my friend Jalang’o that those urging him to leave ODM are misguiding him because he cannot secure re-election in Lang’ata under any other party’s banner apart from ODM,” Senator Sifuna emphasized.
Sifuna, who also serves as ODM’s secretary-general, contended that it was the ODM ticket that enabled Jalang’o to secure victory in the August 2022 elections.
“Jalang’o was primarily known as a radio presenter. It was the ODM ticket that transformed people’s perception of him into that of a politician, not just a journalist. Therefore, he cannot simply decide to run with any other party,” Sifuna stated.
The Senator encouraged Jalang’o to remain loyal and continue serving ODM if he wished to maintain his position as an MP.
“I have conveyed to Jalang’o that even if he manages to stay in office through a court order until 2027, he will not regain the Lang’ata MP seat,” he added.
Last week, the opposition party expelled several legislators from Nyanza, alleging that they had rebelled against the party. Among those expelled were MPs Jalang’o, Caroli Omondi (Suba South), Gideon Ochanda (Bondo), Elisha Odhiambo (Gem), and Kisumu Senator Tom Ojienda. The expulsion also affected some nominated MCAs from Kisumu, Homa Bay, and Migori.
In response, Jalang’o asserted that he would remain a member of ODM until he received communication from the party leader, Raila Odinga. He reiterated his commitment to serving as the Lang’ata Constituency MP until the next general election in 2027.
“The party belongs to Raila Amollo Odinga, and if I have not received communication from him, I am an ODM member… I will be the Lang’ata MP until 2027, and I urge you to take this information to the bank because it is the truth. No changes have been made,” Jalang’o declared.
