Raila reveals Sifuna was part of team that drafted MoU with UDA
Former Prime Minister Raila Odinga has revealed that Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna was part of the team that wrote the 10-point agenda, which formed the basis of the agreement between the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) and the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) signed on March 7, 2025.
Speaking in Kakamega during the party’s County delegates conference on Friday, July 25, 2025, Raila said he only signed the document after Sifuna assured him that he had read it and was satisfied with its proposals.
You might also like
“Sifuna and his group came up with the memorandum of understanding. They only came up with the draft and read to me whatever they had written. I asked them whether they had read it, understood, and agreed with the recommendations, then I signed against the document,” Raila stated.
Temporary fix
He also said that the agreement was a temporary fix to stabilize the government and return it from military intervention, noting that ODM will review whether there was compliance with the agreement or not.
“We only agreed on emergency issues to keep the government going. However, all that we agreed on in the MoU must be achieved,” Raila said.
He, however, defended Sifuna against attacks from a section of ODM leaders who say he has gone against the party position on cooperation with the President William Ruto-led broad-based government.
Democracy in ODM
“The D in ODM is very important; it guarantees members the right to be heard. I may not agree with what you have to say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it,” Raila said.
“Everybody has a right to speak their mind; that is democracy. This is what ODM stands for, and there will be differences of opinion.”
Raila said that not everyone can hold the same position on issues at the party, and that Sifuna had a right to hold opinions on the state of the ODM Party.
“Not everyone in the party will have the same opinion on issues, but we have to protect their rights to speak. When Sifuna speaks, he has a right to do so, and if you have a different opinion from his, speak yours. Even if you think that what I am doing is wrong, say it,” Raila noted.
