Sifuna: Gachagua’s tribalism caught up with him, ODM unmoved by his clash with Ruto
Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna has dismissed the ongoing political fallout between President William Ruto and his former deputy Rigathi Gachagua, saying it has nothing to do with the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) Party.
Speaking during an interview on a local TV station on Tuesday, July 22, 2025, he maintained that ODM’s interest lies solely in how the divisions in the ruling coalition might benefit the opposition.
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From his perspective as secretary seneral, Sifuna indicated that the party welcomes any cracks that may weaken Ruto’s political base, suggesting that scattered votes on the other side are an advantage to ODM.
Further downplaying the significance of Gachagua’s political manoeuvres, Sifuna said he barely knows the former deputy president and has only encountered him briefly in official capacities. He noted that their interactions have been minimal and that Gachagua’s political troubles are of no consequence to ODM’s agenda.
“I have seen Gachagua twice in my life, at a funeral in Nyeri and during his impeachment,” he said.
Sifuna also dismissed any notion that ODM should be concerned about Gachagua’s conduct, saying that he had already been dealt with through formal mechanisms such as impeachment. According to him, any current issues involving Gachagua should be addressed by the government itself, not by the opposition.
“You all know he is a tribalist; that is the reason why we impeached him. How many times do you want us to impeach him? He paid for his crimes; he can do whatever it is he is doing out there. If he crosses the line, arrest him. For me, that is Ruto’s funeral, pahali walitoana mimi, I was not there,” Sifuna stated.
Adding;
“From an ODM perspective, as SG, for as long as Ruto’s votes are being scattered, that is all I care about.”
Tribalism abroad
Sifuna’s remarks come at a time when Gachagua is facing sharp criticism over his conduct during an ongoing tour of the United States, where he has been accused of promoting tribalism abroad.
Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi was among those who hit out at Gachagua, accusing him of dividing Kenyans in the diaspora by speaking in his native language during public addresses.
“A person who has been a DP in this country, when you say you want to address people living in the diaspora in your local dialect, then you are exporting tribalism,” Mudavadi said during a rally in Kajiado County on Saturday, July 19.
Mudavadi said Kenyans abroad have always been united, regardless of ethnicity.
“The bad manners you have here, you are exporting it to the diaspora. Kenyans in the diaspora have been united. When you are in a foreign land, the best neighbour is the Kenyan you know, and you don’t look at his tribe. They know how to unite and support each other even when there is a problem,” he added.
National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang’ula also criticised Gachagua’s US tour, urging Kenyans abroad not to fall into the trap of ethnic politics.
“Do not take tribalism to the diaspora; you cannot go abroad and just talk to one tribe,” Wetang’ula said during an event in Busia County on Friday, July 18.
“Kenya’s international image is at stake if political leaders encourage exclusivity based on ethnicity.”
Despite the backlash, Gachagua has continued with his two-month tour of the United States, which he says is meant to strengthen ties with the Kenyan diaspora and rally support ahead of the 2027 General Election.
He arrived at Logan International Airport on Thursday, July 17, where he was received by Kenyan community members, led by diaspora chairman David Gikonyo. Before that, he visited Seattle, Washington, where he opened a satellite office for his Democracy for Citizens Party (DCP).
