Sifuna opens up on post-2022 election stress after Raila lost
By Ascah Mwango, July 23, 2025Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna has opened up about the emotional toll the 2022 general elections took on him, saying it was impossible to enjoy his win while his party suffered major losses.
Speaking during a TV interview on Tuesday, July 22, 2025, Sifuna recalled how the disappointment from the elections left him in isolation for months.
Although he secured his first term as Senator, he said the overall defeat of his party, Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) and its leader overshadowed his triumph.
As ODM’s Secretary General, Sifuna noted he felt a sense of responsibility for the party’s performance. Instead of basking in his victory, he found himself weighed down by collective disappointment. The loss hit him so hard that he withdrew from public life, isolating himself at home for nearly three months.
He avoided interactions, unable to respond to the overwhelming questions and concerns from equally disheartened supporters. The experience left a lasting impact on him, with Sifuna admitting that it was one of the lowest moments of his political life.
“I had been elected for the first time in 2022 as Senator, but because I was SG of ODM and my party leader had lost elections, I never got an opportunity to celebrate. I was locked up in my house for almost 3 months. I didn’t want to talk to anyone. I didn’t want anyone to call me because I had no answers for the people. I do not want to go through that again,” he said.
2022 general elections
In the August 9, 2022, general elections, ODM’s presidential candidate Raila Odinga lost to William Ruto in a tight race. Ruto was declared the winner with 50.49% of the vote, while Odinga garnered 48.85%. Raila rejected the results and filed a petition at the Supreme Court, but the court upheld Ruto’s win.
ODM also performed poorly in the National Assembly elections, managing 86 seats compared to 145 won by Ruto’s United Democratic Alliance (UDA). The party also faced setbacks in several local contests and by-elections. In the Msambweni by-election, ODM lost the seat, with party leaders, including Hassan Joho, blaming low voter turnout on a weekday for the defeat.
Following the losses, ODM Secretary General Sifuna admitted there was confusion within the party and apologised to its supporters. He acknowledged the party struggled to turn out the vote despite attracting large crowds at rallies.
“We had the people, but we just couldn’t convert that energy into votes. That is something we must reflect on deeply,” he said.
The 2022 elections marked a low point for ODM, having lost the presidency, several parliamentary seats, and critical by-elections. The outcome sparked internal debate and calls for reforms to rebuild the party ahead of future contests.