ODM rift deepens as Ruth Odinga defends 'rebel' Edwin Sifuna

By Newsflash Reporter

Ruth Odinga, Raila Odinga’s sister, has come out strongly in defense of ODM Secretary-General Edwin Sifuna, adding fresh fuel to an already simmering internal dispute within the Orange Democratic Movement.

In a statement issued on Thursday, February 5, 2026, Ruth criticized what she described as growing hostility toward leaders who question the party’s direction and financial transparency.

Her remarks follow sustained attacks on Sifuna after a recent Citizen TV interview in which he raised concerns about the source of funding behind lavish ODM political events.

His comments have unsettled sections of the party leadership and triggered fierce criticism online, with some branding him part of a rebellious faction undermining party unity.

But Ruth says the backlash reveals a deeper problem — a shrinking space for honest conversation within ODM at a time when the party faces crucial political decisions.

Storm over source of funds

Central to the dispute is Sifuna’s public assertion that ODM has not used party funds to bankroll the high-budget “Linda Ground” conventions held across the country. These events have featured helicopter travel, massive tents, heavy mobilization, and widespread party branding — all of which suggest spending running into millions of shillings.

Ruth questioned why Sifuna should be vilified for asking what she termed “fair and necessary questions,” especially given his position as a signatory to the party’s official accounts.

“If he is asking where the money is coming from, shouldn’t members be given answers instead of insults?” she posed.

She raised the possibility that governors or MPs might be informally financing the activities, or that a well-connected donor could be sponsoring them. If so, she argued, members deserve to know who that benefactor is and what they expect in return.

Her concerns echo Sifuna’s warning that undisclosed funding streams could compromise the party’s independence. The ODM Secretary-General has also stated that the party is owed about Sh12 billion in state funding — money that has yet to be disbursed despite being constitutionally mandated.

She suggested that withholding these funds while allowing parallel financing of events could be a strategy to maintain influence over ODM’s internal affairs.

MoU strains and rising dissent

The internal friction comes as the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between President William Ruto and Raila Odinga approaches its expiry date, with little visible progress on key commitments. Ruth Odinga argued that stifling dissent now could harm ODM more than open debate.

She defended Sifuna’s right to declare the MoU effectively defunct, asking why such a view should be treated as betrayal when frustrations over implementation are widespread.

Drawing parallels with her brother’s political history, she noted that Raila Odinga himself has often taken firm positions even while working within coalition governments.

She also pointed to recent incidents where leaders perceived as critical of the prevailing line were publicly heckled at party events, warning that such scenes signal intolerance rather than unity.

Ruth acknowledged she has already been labeled a rebel but insisted that speaking out is necessary. She placed ultimate responsibility for the MoU’s fate on President Ruto, as the principal signatory.

According to her, ODM members should prepare for a turbulent political period if transparency, accountability, and internal democracy continue to be sidelined.

Acccording to political analysts, her remarks not only shields Sifuna from internal pressure but also underscores a widening ideological divide in ODM — one that could shape the party’s future well beyond the March 7 MoU deadline.