Sifuna hits back at Makau Mutua over calls to resign from ODM
ODM Secretary General Edwin Sifuna has hit out at President William Ruto’s advisor, Makau Mutu, after he called on him to resign from his position in the party.
Taking to his X account on Wednesday, August 20, 2025, Sifuna accused Makau of neglecting his new responsibilities and instead choosing to meddle in the affairs of the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM).
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He argued that Makau, who was recently appointed by President Ruto to coordinate the compensation of victims of anti-government protests, should be fully occupied with the heavy task of determining reparations for families who lost loved ones.
According to Sifuna, Makau’s role is too weighty to leave room for political interference, especially in a party he no longer identifies with. The Nairobi Senator dismissed Makau’s criticism, framing it as a distraction from his mandate in government.
“Omwami, you have the unenviable task of determining the value of the lives of the young people your new friends killed and compensating their families. One would imagine that crown to be so heavy as not to allow the wearer time for anything else, let alone worrying about the SG of ODM, who isn’t even your friend,” Sifuna fired back.
Makau had earlier waded into ODM’s internal politics by insisting that Sifuna’s continued stay as Secretary General was untenable. He argued that, if guided by principle, Sifuna should step aside voluntarily, noting that in Kenya resignations of this nature are rare and often only happen when an official is forced out.
“My good learned friend and Senator @edwinsifuna appears to be in an untenable position as SG of @TheODMparty. It seems to me that the honourable thing for him to do if he’s a man of principle is to resign his post, which rarely happens in Kenya, unless one is sacked,” Makau posted earlier.
X. PHOTO/Screengrab by K24 Digital from @edwinsifuna
Will not step down
Sifuna has previously insisted he will not step down despite his criticism of the party’s direction. Speaking in a TV interview on July 22, 2024, the Nairobi Senator said he still believes in ODM’s core values and the leadership of Raila Odinga.
“The reason I will not resign yet is that I have not given up. I have not given up on members of the ODM,” Sifuna said.
Adding;
“There is still belief and trust within the ranks of the party that Baba knows what is right for the people and that he will do the right thing. On the day that I give up, I will tell you. I will say it publicly that I have lost the battle to rescue this party and to bring it back to where it was.”
Sifuna admitted that the party’s collaboration with the government has caused confusion and could weaken ODM ahead of the 2027 General Election.
“There is a lot of confusion. I have told my party leader that there was a time when it was very easy to be the SG of ODM. What we agreed is that you can compromise on tactics, but you can never compromise on your values.”
He also apologised to ODM members for the mixed signals from the leadership.
“I want to apologise to members of ODM for all the confusion we as a leadership have caused because it is very difficult right now to discern the position of ODM on major issues,” he said.
The growing tension leaves ODM grappling with internal divisions as it prepares for the next election while navigating its relationship with the ruling coalition.
