Sifuna Reveals How Ruto’s ODM Cabinet Nominations Caught Him Unaware
Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) Secretary General Edwin Sifuna disclosed on Thursday that he was taken by surprise by President William Ruto’s appointment of ODM members to his Cabinet.
Sifuna mentioned that the ODM Central Committee convened only once after July 9, when Raila Odinga expressed a willingness to engage in dialogue with President Ruto.
Nairobi Senator Sifuna stated that during that meeting, there was no consensus that ODM would seek ministerial positions.
“ODM has not joined the government. As the Secretary General of ODM, I participate in all party organs and serve as the spokesperson for all those organs,” he emphasized.
“There has been much speculation about what transpired yesterday, but the reality is that none of the ODM organs I am part of have decided to join the Ruto government.”
On July 9, President Ruto and Raila Odinga shared the stage at the Kenyatta International Conference Centre (KICC) while signing the Independent Electoral and Boundaries (IEBC) Amendment Bill into law.
During the event, Raila indicated that as the opposition, they were open to engaging the government to address issues raised by protestors.
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“Since the KICC meeting, there has been a concerted effort to misrepresent the party’s stance, especially in the print media,” Sifuna accused the media of misreporting events that suggested ODM joined Ruto’s cabinet.
Sifuna confessed that his last discussion about the dialogue indicated Raila wanted a national conversation, and it was unfair for the media to claim he failed to communicate clearly as the ODM Secretary General.
“I have been very clear in my communication as ODM’s Secretary General. After KICC, Raila convened a central committee meeting, which is his usual practice when we lack the opportunity to meet before an event,” he explained, highlighting his unawareness of other ODM leaders’ negotiations to join Ruto’s cabinet.
Despite Sifuna’s defense that ODM is not part of the government, he remains the only high-ranking party official not offered a cabinet position.
John Mbadi (Chairman), Ali Hassan Joho (Deputy Party Leader), Wycliffe Oparanya (Deputy Party Leader), and Opiyo Wandayi (National Assembly Minority Leader and Director of Political Affairs) have all been nominated to the Cabinet.
Sifuna Reveals How Ruto’s ODM Cabinet Nominations Caught Him Unaware
