ODM leader Raila Odinga has called on the party’s Secretary General Edwin Sifuna to tone down his criticism of President William Ruto’s administration.
Raila further assured ODM members who joined the government that the party will give them all the support they need to discharge their duties.
“Sifuna, sometimes do not be too harsh,” Raila said as he addressed mourners during the funeral of late Kasipul MP Charles Were in Oyugis, Homa Bay County.
Raila explained that ODM has an arrangement with Kenya Kwanza “which was put in black and white.”
“It is a 10-point agenda which we want it to be fully implemented.”
He urged ODM members to remain steadfast and work towards unifying the party.
“There will always be differences in opinions on some issues, but a party must have a firm stand on a particular matter,” he added.
He added that it would be beneficial for the party if the members supported the four ODM Cabinet Secretaries in their work.
“The spokesman of the party is the Secretary General. When Sifuna speaks, he speaks on behalf of the party but then sazingine apana kuwa chungu sana (sometimes do not be too harsh),” he stated.
Raila’s remarks came after Treasury CS John Mbadi asked to be supported in his role in government, alongside Hassan Joho (Mining), Opiyo Wandayi (Energy) and Wycliffe Oparanya (Cooperatives).
“I am the longest-serving ODM chairman, and the reason I’m placing a lot of effort into transforming this economy is because I found it in bad shape,” Mbadi stated.
“Another reason is I wanted to demonstrate to Kenyans that if Raila had become president, these are the people he would have gone with to government, and this is what they would have done,” he added.
“My brother Sifuna, I am a member of your party and I don’t belong to any other. If I fail, there’s no way you can convince anyone in 2027 that ODM can run a government.”
Sifuna has been strongly critical of the broad-based government.
by Allan Kisia
