Salasya dismisses ODM’s unity calls, says party is chasing deals not reforms
By Steve Ireri, July 29, 2025Mumias East Member of Parliament Peter Salasya has poured cold water on the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM)’s latest statement declaring support for the Kenya Kwanza administration, accusing the party of abandoning genuine reforms in favour of political survival and backdoor deals.
In a strongly worded statement shared on his X account on Tuesday, July 29, 2025, shortly after ODM Secretary General Edwin Sifuna delivered the party’s official position, Salasya dismissed the ODM leadership as opportunistic and out of touch with the real needs of the people.
He claimed that ODM was now more focused on appeasing the government than holding it accountable, even as ordinary Kenyans continue to battle the high cost of living and economic uncertainty.
“ODM is no longer the people’s voice. They are chasing deals, not reforms. The statement Sifuna read was nothing new. It is the same rhetoric dressed in flowery language,” Salasya said.
He claimed that ODM had become a confused party, lacking clear direction and credibility, especially in its recent overtures to work with the Kenya Kwanza government.
According to Salasya, the move was not motivated by national interest but by the desire to secure political positions and remain relevant within the current power dynamics.
“Let us be honest. Sifuna is not speaking for the youth or the people. He is playing to impress Raila Odinga. He is Raila’s mouthpiece and cannot operate independently. And while he speaks, Raila is dining with Junet and cutting deals behind the scenes,” Salasya claimed.
He also cast doubt on the party’s call for national unity and support for the allocation of Ksh415 billion to counties, saying it was a smokescreen to divert attention from ODM’s failure to stand firm on earlier demands, including pushing for Ksh450 billion as earlier suggested by Raila himself.
“ODM says they support the Ksh415 billion for counties, but that is just an attempt to sanitise the government. Where is the consistency? Where is the push for constitutional reforms, for justice, for youth inclusion? That is all gone. This party is negotiating for itself, not for Kenyans,” Salasya added.
He further urged Kenyans to be vigilant and not fall for what he termed as choreographed betrayals.
Salasya said that ODM, by siding with the same administration it previously condemned, had lost its moral authority and could no longer claim to champion the voice of the common mwananchi.
“ODM’s voice has become hollow. Their unity call is not for Kenya, it is for the party’s survival. Kenyans should not be deceived. I warned them before about Sifuna’s role, and now they are seeing it unfold,” he said.
