ODM Secretary General Edwin Sifuna has cleared the air on his resignation rumors, stating he is holding onto a "glimmer of hope."

Facing mounting pressure from both within and outside his party, Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna has addressed the swirling speculation regarding his tenure as the Orange Democratic Movement's (ODM) Secretary General. In a defiant yet calculated address, Sifuna clarified that while he has not yet tendered his resignation, his letter is effectively drafted and ready to be signed the moment the party crosses the "red line" of formally joining President Ruto’s government.

The "Glimmer of Hope"

"I have not resigned because I still believe there is a soul in this party worth saving," Sifuna explained. He characterized the current dalliance with the government by some party members as a temporary aberration rather than a permanent shift in ideology. Sifuna believes that the party organs will eventually see the "broad-based" government for what he claims it is: a poisoned chalice.

This nuanced position allows Sifuna to remain in the cockpit, fighting to steer the party away from the government's embrace, while keeping his exit strategy clear. He is effectively daring the party leader, Raila Odinga, and the National Executive Council to make a choice: Sifuna and the opposition base, or the Cabinet Secretaries and the government perks.

• The Internal Sabotage: Sifuna hinted at "riff-raffs" and "noisy amateurs" within the party who are pushing for his exit. He dismissed them as political mercenaries who have been compromised by state handouts.
• The Condition: "If the party decides to go ahead with the merger in 2027, then I will have no option. I will not be the Secretary General of a government apologist party," he stated firmly.
• The Future: Sifuna hinted at an "alternative political front" should ODM collapse into the ruling coalition, suggesting that plans for a new progressive movement are already being discussed in hushed tones.

The Last Man Standing?

Sifuna presents himself as the last guardian of the original ODM flame—the party of reform, agitation, and people power. His refusal to resign immediately is a tactical delay, buying time to organize the resistance from within. However, as more ODM stalwarts take up government jobs, Sifuna's position looks increasingly isolated.

The Nairobi Senator is gambling his entire political capital on this standoff. If he wins, he emerges as the de facto leader of the Kenyan opposition. If he loses, he will be in the political wilderness. But for now, he stays, he fights, and he waits for the party to make its move.