Nairobi Senator and Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) Secretary General Edwin Sifuna has sought to assure party members that he will not be the source of division within the party, pledging to engage in dialogue with all leaders as part of efforts to end ongoing infighting.
Speaking in response to an appeal by Mama Ida Odinga for unity and consultation within ODM, Sifuna said he had taken her words to heart and was committed to preserving the party’s cohesion in line with the values of its late leader, Raila Odinga.
“I have listened to every word that you have said,” Sifuna said, addressing Mama Ida directly.
“As I said at Mzee’s burial, it will not be Sifuna to wreck ODM party. I made that promise to Mzee, and I want to repeat it here.”
His remarks come amid internal tensions within ODM, with competing positions and public exchanges among senior figures raising concern among supporters about the party’s stability following Raila Odinga’s death.
Sifuna emphasized that, despite past disagreements and personal attacks, he remains willing to engage any party member in dialogue for the sake of unity.
“The advice that you’ve given, Mama, I want to tell you there is no one in ODM,” he said. “It doesn’t matter how many times, how badly you’ve insulted me, there is none in ODM I will not sit down with.”
He described Mama Ida as the moral anchor of the party following the death of her husband, saying her call for reconciliation carried significant weight among ODM leaders and supporters.
“You have asked us to sit and talk. I am very prepared,” Sifuna said. “It doesn’t matter what has happened between us.”
The ODM secretary general said he was ready to put past differences behind him and extend an olive branch to colleagues he may have clashed with, stressing that internal disputes should not be allowed to undermine the party’s broader mission.
“As Mama has said, I’m going to extend that olive branch, because Mama, sahii wewe ndiye uko,” he said, adding, “It is water under the bridge.”
Sifuna reiterated that his actions were guided by the promise he made to Raila Odinga to safeguard the party and uphold its ideals.
He said ODM’s strength has always rested on dialogue, inclusivity, and the ability to accommodate divergent views within a shared ideological framework.
He also urged party members to tone down public exchanges and instead resolve differences through internal mechanisms, warning that prolonged infighting could weaken ODM’s standing nationally.
His remarks followed Mama Ida’s call for unity and dialogue within the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM).
She urged party leaders and members to resolve internal differences through consultation in the spirit of the late party leader Raila Odinga.
Speaking at her Karen residence while marking what would have been Raila Odinga’s 81st birthday, Mama Ida paid tribute to her late husband’s leadership of the party and called on ODM to preserve his legacy by remaining principled, inclusive, and people-centred.
Mama Ida recalled Raila’s hands-on approach to party management, describing him as a firm but fair leader who believed in collective decision-making and constant engagement with party members and the public.
“Baba ran ODM with dedicated dedication. He ran ODM with firm and fair hands,” she said.
“Raila ran ODM on the principle of constant consultations and always referring to the people.”
She said it was critical for the party to remain intact and focused, arguing that safeguarding ODM’s unity would be a fitting way to honour Raila’s contribution to Kenya’s political development.
“It is my wish that we can preserve the party in his honor as a matter of service to our country,” Mama Ida said, adding that ODM had a responsibility beyond partisan interests.
She urged those at the helm to reflect deeply on Raila’s vision for both ODM and the nation, particularly at a time when the party faces internal challenges.
“Let us approach the problems of the party by always asking ourselves what would Baba do under this circumstance?” she posed.
