Sifuna breaks silence after Raila’s burial with message to supporters
By Aloys Michael, October 21, 2025Nairobi Senator General Edwin Sifuna has broken his silence following the passing of the ODM party leader, Raila Odinga, amid an internal rift in the faction over its succession.
Taking to his X account on Tuesday, October 21, 2025, Sifuna thanked Kenyans for their prayers and messages of encouragement during what he called a “difficult period.”
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“To all of you who sent me messages of prayers and encouragement, thank you so much. I’m just getting round to reading and responding. Kindly accept my sincerest appreciation, even if I don’t respond to all of them. God bless,” he wrote.
The ODM Secretary General’s statement comes amid growing internal rifts within ODM, as debate swirls over the party’s future leadership.
A section of ODM members led by Kisii County Governor Simba Arati, who is also the faction’s deputy party leader, has requested President William Ruto as a potential 2027 flagbearer.
“The President yesterday said he is going to ensure that ODM remains the party it is. I want to urge him today, Mheshimiwa Ruto, you were a founding member of ODM. How I wish that you would come back to your former party,” Arati said.
“If you came back to ODM, then we would have you as our flag bearer. If you came back, we would fulfil the promise Baba had a vision for.”
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But the move has sparked tension in the late prime minister’s party after his burial, with Sifuna maintaining that he will use all his powers to unite ODM and that it will field a candidate.
Speaking on Sunday, October 19, 2025, in Siaya County during the burial ceremony of Raila, Sifuna insisted that Raila’s last directive was that ODM will field a candidate in the 2027 General Elections.
“Mimi nataka niseme kwamba Baba alikuwa anasikiza wananchi.Nataka ku encourage wanachama wa ODM. Sasa tunyamaze tusikize wananchi wanasema nini. Baba alizungumza wazi tarehe ishirini na mbili mwezi uliopita mbele ya hawa wabunge, aliongea kwa kinywa chake mwenyewe, naomba viongozi msiingize maneno kwa mdomo ya mtu ambaye amelala,” he said.
Sifuna, in his tribute to the late ODM leader, assured him that he will keep the party united to cement his legacy and the principles he stood for.
“Because ODM is one of your (Raila) biggest legacies, I, as Sifuna, will do everything in my power to keep this party together even in the face of provocation, and you know what we are talking about,” Sifuna said.
The Senator further urged the remaining leadership within the ODM party to remain united and take a step back from politics to listen to millions of other party affiliates on the way forward.
“In my view, this is not the time to push divisive narratives within ODM. ODM is a party for everyone. We as leaders should show unity so that other members can follow suit,” Sifuna said.
“I want to say here, I will not be among the people who contribute to this party’s downfall. I want to encourage the leaders of ODM; let’s be quiet and listen to the people and what they want.”
His remarks came after a section of leaders led by Homa Bay Governor Gladys Wanga said that the last Raila’s directive to his party members was to remain united and focus on the broad-based government under the leadership of President William Ruto.
“I want to tell you, Mr President, that we will remain in a broad-based government because that is where Baba left us and directed us to commit before he died in India,” Wanga said.