Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna has drawn a line in the sand, warning that any alliance with President Ruto spells the death of ODM.

In a blistering critique that has deepened the fissures within the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM), Secretary General Edwin Sifuna has categorically rejected any possibility of supporting President William Ruto’s re-election bid in 2027. Speaking with the candor of a man ready to walk away, Sifuna declared that tying the party's fortunes to the Kenya Kwanza administration would be an act of supreme political self-sabotage.

"He Is Going Home"

The Senator’s remarks, delivered during a prime-time interview, were devoid of diplomatic ambiguity. Sifuna argued that the ground has shifted and that the President's popularity is in irreversible decline. "The surest way for ODM to end up in the opposition forever is to be entangled with William Ruto," Sifuna asserted, his voice steady. "Because I tell you this for free: Ruto is going home."

This statement stands in stark contrast to the maneuvering of a faction within ODM that has been warming up to the government, enticed by the so-called "broad-based" government arrangement. Sifuna dismissed these overtures as a trap, likening them to the political miscalculations that have buried other vibrant opposition parties in Kenya's history. He insisted that the "Gen Z" uprising and the general malaise in the country have rendered the current administration toxic to the electorate.

• The Ultimatum: Sifuna reiterated his threat to resign as Secretary General if the party formalizes a pact with the United Democratic Alliance (UDA). "I will not be part of a funeral procession for my own party," he warned.
• The Integrity Question: He challenged his colleagues who have taken Cabinet positions to remember their roots, questioning how they can sit in a cabinet that implements policies they spent a decade fighting against.
• The Grassroots Pulse: The Senator claimed that the party's base is disillusioned by the mixed signals from the top and is demanding a return to the principled opposition that defined ODM’s glory years.

A Party at the Crossroads

The internal war for the soul of ODM is now public. On one side stands the "government-friendly" wing, arguing for pragmatism and access to state resources. On the other stands Sifuna and a cohort of hardliners who believe that the party’s only path to power lies in remaining the distinct, combative voice of the people. Sifuna’s stance resonates with the party’s traditional base in Nairobi and Nyanza, who view cooperation with Ruto as a betrayal of the "struggle."

As the 2027 calculations begin in earnest, Sifuna’s defiance poses a critical question for Raila Odinga’s legacy: Will ODM evolve into a junior partner in government, or will it re-arm itself for one final, independent assault on the presidency? For Sifuna, the answer is non-negotiable.