- Kisumu Woman Representative Ruth Odinga denied allegations that the late Raila Odinga did not trust Nairobi senator Edwin Sifuna
- Ruth, Raila’s sister, insisted that Raila was not a leader who held secret talks or spread suspicions about allies
- The Kisumu Member of Parliament also warned against narratives that show some people being closer to Raila than others
Kisumu Woman Representative Ruth Odinga has rejected the claims of businessman Oketch Salah that the late Raila Odinga had doubted the Nairobi senator and secretary general of the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM). Edwin Sifuna.
Source: Facebook
Ruth, Raila’s sister, spoke on Monday, December 29, after welcoming a delegation of veterans from the multi-party reform struggle in Kenya to her home in Nyahera.
The meeting, he said, was a time to reflect on the long journey towards democracy and the great cost paid by those who participated in the struggle, some of whom lost their lives.
“It was humbling this evening to welcome a delegation of veterans of the multi-party reform struggle to my home in Nyahera. It was a time to remember the past, to remember the struggle and the cost that came with it. Some died on the way,” the MP said.
How did Raila communicate with people?
It is in this context that the member of parliament directly addressed the allegations that have sparked a heated debate within the ODM party.
He emphasized that Raila was not the type of leader who whispered accusations behind closed doors or held secret talks to undermine other leaders.
According to Ruth, the former prime minister engaged people from all walks of life freely and never acted as a gossip.
He insisted that anyone claiming that Raila held a series of private discussions with them on various sensitive issues was misleading the public.
“Anyone who tells Kenyans that Hon. Raila had a series of private discussions with him on various issues is a lie, and he must be beaten. ‎Jakom had a way of saying what he has and he would make public his position on national issues,” he added.
Is Edwin Sifuna Raila’s ‘son’?
That member of parliament Poisonous he also opposed attempts to show some people as having a unique opportunity to reach the former prime minister.
Ruth emphasized that Sifuna, in his capacity as Nairobi senator and ODM secretary general, was Raila’s son like anyone else in the party and had clear lines of communication with him.
He warned against narratives aimed at elevating one’s closeness to the late ODM leader over others, adding that such sentiments only serve to sow division during the post-Raila era.
“Talking about Baba’s sons, the Nairobi Senator and ODM SG, Edwin Sifuna was his son as well and he used to talk to him. So no one should claim that he was closer to Raila than everyone else,” Ruth said.
Source: UGC
Did Raila have doubts about Sifuna?
His remarks come against the backdrop of growing pressure on Sifuna within ODM, with one group accusing him of undermining the party at a time when it is going through a fragile relationship with the President’s Democratic Union. William Ruto (UDA).
The accusations escalated after Oketch, who describes himself as Raila’s adopted son, claimed that Raila had started questioning Sifuna’s loyalty before her death.
Oketch claimed that Raila was worried about Sifuna’s actions, especially his public criticism of the wider deal between ODM and UDA.
He claimed that Raila believed Sifuna was acting as a traitor for other interests but chose not to fire him immediately.
Oketch further claimed that Raila had predicted Sifuna’s opposition to any collaboration with Ruto and warned that the senator was buying time in the party while pursuing wrong motives.
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