Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna has responded to President William Ruto's repeated attacks by recalling insults he says were previously directed at his late mentor Raila Odinga.

The remarks have renewed attention on the growing confrontation between the two leaders ahead of the 2027 General Election.

Sifuna made the remarks during a media engagement in Nairobi on Thursday, October 9. He said he was not intimidated by the President's comments.

The Senator argued that the language used against him reminded him of how Ruto treated Raila in the past.

"Someone who was used to insulting your father will not hesitate to insult you. All those names that he has called me, he called Raila," Sifuna said. The remarks were first reported by Nairobi Leo on October 10.

Sifuna also criticised the President's leadership record. He said the administration should be judged on governance, public spending and accountability.

He argued that development projects alone cannot resolve concerns about the government. He cited the Talanta Stadium project as an example.

He said construction of an impressive facility should not stop Kenyans from demanding transparency. The exchange comes amid a series of public confrontations between Ruto and Sifuna.

People Daily reported on October 3 that the President had referred to Sifuna as "Mr Empty" while criticising the Senator.

The same report indicated that Sifuna questioned why the President had turned his criticism towards him after previously attacking Raila.

Sifuna served as the Orange Democratic Movement secretary-general for eight years. He was among the leaders closely associated with Raila's political movement.

Daily Nation examined on October 10 how Raila's death has changed Sifuna's political life.

The report described the challenges facing the Senator as he seeks to establish his political identity.

It highlighted disagreements within ODM over the party's relationship with Ruto's administration.

The dispute within ODM has become significant as politicians position themselves for 2027.

While some leaders favour cooperation with the government, others argue the arrangement weakens the party's identity.

The Standard reported on October 10 that Sifuna believed Raila would have pursued the presidency in 2027 had he lived.

According to the report, the Senator argued that political circumstances could have presented an opportunity for the former prime minister.

Citizen Digital has previously covered disagreements between Ruto and Sifuna over policies including the affordable housing programme.

For Sifuna, the latest remarks represent both a response to criticism and a reminder of his relationship with Raila.

By drawing parallels between their experiences, he placed the confrontation within a wider history of political disagreements.

As the 2027 General Election approaches, debate is likely to focus on governance, accountability and economic pressures.

Whether Sifuna can turn his criticism into a broader national platform remains to be seen.