Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) Secretary General Edwin Sifuna has expressed concern that the party’s continued cooperation with President William Ruto’s government could weaken its readiness for the 2027 General Election.
Speaking during an interview on a local TV station on Tuesday, Sifuna said the ongoing working relationship between ODM and the Kenya Kwanza administration is affecting the party’s ability to prepare and position itself as a strong alternative ahead of the next polls.
He noted that while the official stance on coalitions and political alignments is determined by the party leader, his concern lies in the long-term consequences of staying too close to the government.
“Unfortunately, the position of the party on coalitions is given by the party leader, so what he says is the position of the party,” Sifuna stated.
Adding;
“For me, I worry that if you stick with the current government until 2027, then you don’t have the time to prepare the party for elections.”
According to Sifuna, if ODM maintains its ties with the current regime until 2027, the party risks running out of time to regroup, mobilise, and strategically prepare for the elections.
The firebrand politicians emphasised that election readiness requires deliberate planning, organisational restructuring, and strong grassroots engagement, all of which could be compromised by the perception that ODM is part and parcel of an increasingly unpopular government.
He further argued that this continued collaboration might make it difficult for ODM to distinguish itself ideologically and politically from Kenya Kwanza. This, in turn, could hinder the party’s efforts to explain its actions and choices to the electorate and to reassert its identity as an alternative leadership option
“Preparation for elections does take time. The worry would be that we would have lost that opportunity to be able not only to extricate ourselves from this very unpopular regime but also to explain to the people what we’ve been doing with Ruto all these years,” Sifuna stated.
ODM-KK deal
ODM entered into a political agreement with President Ruto’s administration in mid-2024, following weeks of nationwide anti-government protests. The deal was meant to ease political tension and promote national unity through a broad-based government that included members from both sides of the political divide.
As part of the agreement, several ODM members were appointed to strategic government positions. However, this move sparked backlash from the public and some party supporters, who saw it as a betrayal of the opposition’s role in holding the government accountable.
Critics argue that the deal silenced ODM’s voice against controversial government policies, especially the Finance Bill 2024, which was met with massive resistance across the country. Many Kenyans feel the party has failed to stand with citizens on key issues since joining hands with the government.
