Removing Ruto from office is a national agenda: Sifuna

Speaking during an interview on Citizen TV, Sifuna accused the Kenya Kwanza administration of betraying the Constitution and running the country in a manner that disregards the values of good governance and public interest.

The Nairobi Senator claimed that Ruto's government has turned its back on the aspirations of Kenyans, branding it as the “worst possible government” the country could have had.

He added that the growing frustration among citizens is a clear signal that the demand for Ruto’s exit quickly became a unifying factor.

"I want William Ruto to know that his removal from office is a national priority agenda. This is the worst possible government we would have envisaged. His government is totally opposed to what the Constitution stands for," Sifuna noted. 

Sifuna also weighed in on the perception that his party leader, Raila Odinga took advantage of the anti-government protests on June 25, 2024, following the appointment of four ODM politicians into government and the formation of the broad-based government. 

According to the senator, the matter was construed to pinpoint Raila as an opportunist and did not reflect the status quo. 

"After the protests of June 24th, there was an impasse. We were frustrated, we were saying, can these Gen Zs finish the job? They were to kick Ruto out. The accusation that we took advantage of anyone is unfair," Sifuna pointed out. 

"Baba has been on record that he was against these individual members joining the government. The idea at that time was to have a conversation with William Ruto to have a transitional mechanism that would restore the country back to the people."

He further noted that Raila Odinga’s proposal for a national conclave was a good idea, as it would involve meaningful engagement with the public across different generations. 

While acknowledging that many Kenyans are fatigued by repeated calls for dialogue, Sifuna affirmed that this initiative would be different and aimed at gathering ideas from a cross-section of society and addressing the root causes of public discontent.

"I was very happy when the party leader proposed the intergenerational dialogue. The good thing with Jakom is that his ideas don't have to be taken into law," Sifuna noted. 

"Let me concede that I get the sense from the public that there is a lot of dialogue fatigue but there's also an unfair characterisation because there are good things that come out from people talking. He's not said that is what the country must do, he welcomed people who can perfect that idea. I told him I'd want the dialogue to be properly intergenerational."

"Are we treating other generations fairly and equitably? Baba is asking how do you get all of us to talk. We need to have a conversation that should be binding for all of us."