I expect their resignations before they go for vetting - Sifuna on ODM Cabinet nominees

Speaking on Thursday, Sifuna said that the four ODM-allied members had not been recommended to join Ruto's government and their nominations do not represent the party's position.

The political firebrand argued that the members should tender their resignation letters before heading for vetting in Parliament.

"I expect that before they go for vetting I will receive resignation from their positions in the party. That is my expectation because the law is that they cannot go into cabinet as parties and members of political parties," he said speaking on Citizen TV's Daybreak show.

"Did we know that people were negotiating with Ruto, yes we knew. Was it something being done officially through the party structures, no. Did we endorse the decision by these four individuals to join government, no. It is not a decision of ODM."

Sifuna further intimated that the nomination of the four was also not approved by the party leader Raila Odinga who is believed to have gone to bed with the government of the day, fostering a coalition government.

If Raila's hand was involved in the speculated pact, Sifuna added, there would be gender equity in the nominations.

"Even the president himself never said he consulted Raila. He never said he consulted ODM he just said the names of the people he has appointed and it is his prerogative as the president," noted Sifuna.

"If Raila Odinga was asked to present names of people who are capable of turning around this country and address the issues that have been raised by Gen Z, the Raila I know will not present four names of all men. There is no way Raila presents four names, two from one region in a party as diverse as ODM."

While announcing the second batch of nominees to his Cabinet, President Ruto nominated ODM members John Mbadi, a nominated MP, to the Treasury ministry, Ugunja MP James Opiyo Wandayi to the Energy docket, former Mombasa Governor Ali Hassan Joho (Mining and Blue Economy) and former Kakamega Governor Wycliffe Oparanya (Cooperatives and MSMEs Development).

This was barely 24 hours after Sifuna clarified that ODM was not negotiating for any coalition agreement or lobbying for appointments with Ruto’s government.

Reports that Ruto had offered Mr. Odinga five Cabinet slots despite disagreement within the opposition over cooperating with the government were also rumored.

The reports emerged following Odinga’s agreement to a national multi-sectoral dialogue forum Ruto proposed to address issues Kenyans have raised in the anti-government protests since last month.

Last week, several opposition Azimio la Umoja One Kenya coalition principals said they had no plans of joining the government, terming it as a means of betrayal to the Kenyan people.