Sifuna: Why I wasn't in meeting that installed Oburu as ODM Party leader

Speaking during an interview on Citizen TV’s The Explainer, Sifuna clarified that he was part of the delegation that left Nairobi for Mumbai, India, for the repatriation of the late Raila Odinga's body. 

He maintained that some political figures within the party did not consider it necessary to wait for his return to Nairobi for him to be part of the meeting.

"The public needs to be reminded that I was not part of that meeting that installed Oburu as interim party leader. When Baba died, many people saw me at State House when the official announcement was being made," he stated. 

"I was wearing an ODM t-shirt because that same day we were supposed to go to Kajiado. In the morning, I wake up and it is one of the most shocking things, I saw a message saying Amollo has left us. It was quite shocking because I had spoken with Mzee the previous day. I was not in the initial plan to travel to Mumbai."

The Nairobi Senator also raised concerns about adherence to party constitutional procedures, referencing the party Constitution that calls for a special National Delegates Conference (NDC) to install a new leader once the party leader dies. 

He further stated that the process used to elevate Oburu did not, in his view, align with the party’s constitutional framework.

"The installation of Oburu Oginga as interim party leader was not procedural in accordance with the provisions of the Constitution. What I would have advised had I been in that meeting is allow one of the deputies they can even act for one month and in 3 months’ time, call for a special NDC and do it procedurally and properly," he noted. 

"I was not in that meeting because I was going to fetch my party leader to bring Baba back home. I don’t think anybody considers me important enough to be waited upon and they have their reasons why they did it in the manner they did," he added.

On the possibility of being kicked out of the party during the NDC, Sifuna appeared unshaken by speculation about his position.

"It is okay. There is nowhere it is written that Sifuna can be the only one who is SG. I have said that I have predecessors, people who have done this job," Sifuna remarked. 

"I have young people in ODM who, I know for a fact, if they are given the opportunity, they can do this job even better than Sifuna or all the other SGs that have served before. It is not anyone’s birthright to be SG or to be any position in the party."

"I am in ODM and nobody can kick me out of ODM; I have no intention of leaving. You don’t have to be an official to be a member of the party."

Beyond party politics, Sifuna also weighed in on leadership and public accountability, linking what he termed a culture of excess to broader governance challenges from the incumbent government.

"This is the problem that got us into the 2024 quagmire in the first place. I have given you the example of (Deputy President) Kindiki and his private jets. Should we still be seeing such opulence in government? We are being told that State House runs through its budget of mandazi and soda way before the financial year closes," he pointed out.

His remarks come amid heightened political activity within ODM as the party navigates leadership transitions and internal debate over procedure, accountability and possible coalition pacts ahead of the 2027 General Election.