A deepening rift within the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) has laid bare growing unease over the party’s cooperation with President William Ruto’s administration, following sustained criticism of Nairobi Senator and ODM Secretary-General Edwin Sifuna.
In recent months, Mr Sifuna, alongside a group of ODM legislators often described by critics as “rebels”, has been at the centre of controversy linked to the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between President Ruto and former Prime Minister Raila Odinga in March 2025.
The dispute intensified after Mr Sifuna’s interview on Citizen TV, which triggered sharp backlash from sections of the party and coordinated online attacks.
“The speed with which political allegiances shift is worrying,” Ms Odinga says.
“He raised questions many within the party have been asking privately, yet instead of answers, he was met with insults.”
At the heart of the dispute is the financing of high-profile ODM activities, including the use of helicopters, large tents and party-branded merchandise during the Linda Mwananchi public engagements.
“As a signatory to the ODM account, if he asks where the money for choppers, tents, T-shirts and caps is coming from, why should anyone abuse him?” she asks.
“He stated clearly on national television that ODM has not spent a single coin on campaigns that clearly run into millions.”
Ms Odinga argues that transparency, not intimidation, should be the response.
“Those with the answers should provide them,” she says.
“Are governors funding these activities? Are MPs using CDF funds? Or do we have a philanthropist funding expensive political rallies without the party SG’s knowledge—and if so, what is expected in return?”
She warns that suppressing dissenting voices risks weakening the party, particularly as the MoU’s implementation faces visible challenges.
“If we genuinely care about ODM, the last thing we should do is silence voices like Sifuna’s,” she says.
“If questioning makes him a ‘rebel’, then how many times was Raila Odinga himself labelled one?”
She recalls that even during past political compromises, including the nusu mkate arrangements, Mr Odinga consistently defended his principles.
A key concern, Ms Odinga says, is control.
“The fact that money is flying in choppers, branding crowds and organising rallies, yet cannot be channelled into ODM party accounts, points to one thing: control,” she says.
Citing Mr Sifuna, she notes that ODM is owed Sh12 billion by the government—funds constitutionally allocated to political parties based on their numerical strength.
“The government has the option of releasing this money,” she says. “But once it does, it loses control. Instead, it bankrolls activities directly, determining who speaks, who is invited, and what is said.”
She points to an incident at Ciala Resort in Kisumu, where Suba North MP Millie Odhiambo was booed after allegedly departing from the approved message.
“If the MoU has not been honoured and we are less than 30 days from its expiry, what is ‘treasonous’ about declaring it dead?” Ms Odinga asks.
She also questions confidence expressed by some ODM members regarding future political arrangements.
“If President Ruto does not honour an agreement he signed with a man he credited with stabilising the country after the Gen-Z protests, what guarantees exist for future pacts?” she asks. “Will he use a different signature?”
Ms Odinga says she has already been labelled a rebel for raising these concerns but insists that silence is not an option.
“These views are on record so that when the going gets tough—and it surely will—I will not be accused of being mute,” she says.
She places ultimate responsibility on the presidency.
“This is not about the committee implementing the 10-point agenda,” she says. “The buck stops with the bearer of the signature on the MoU—President William Ruto.”
“We have until March 7,” she adds. “That deadline will tell us whether this agreement was ever meant to be honoured.”
The government and ODM leadership have not publicly responded to the claims raised.
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