A vocal United Democratic Alliance (UDA) senator has claimed that President William Ruto played a key role in the removal of Edwin Sifuna as the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) secretary general.
Sifuna was ousted on Wednesday after the ODM National Executive Committee held a meeting in Mombasa, where they resolved to replace him with Busia Woman Representative Catherine Omanyo.
Speaking on Thursday, Murang’a Senator Joe Nyutu alleged that the decision was not purely an internal ODM matter but rather a move orchestrated by President Ruto himself.
According to Nyutu, the removal was a continuation of earlier warnings that Ruto allegedly issued after Sifuna publicly criticised him. He argued that what happened was exactly what had been predicted.
“The removal of Sifuna has nothing to do with ODM. It has everything to do with President Ruto,” Nyutu said.
“If you remember, during the burial of Raila Odinga’s bodyguard, Ruto warned Sifuna against attacking him. He even claimed he is one of the founding members of ODM and said he would call a meeting to have him disciplined. That meeting was held yesterday, just as he promised.”
As previously reported, Ruto had issued a stern warning to Sifuna while speaking at the funeral of Raila Odinga’s bodyguard, George Oduor, on Saturday, April 12, 2025.
During the ceremony, the President reminded Sifuna of his long-standing ties to ODM and suggested that continued criticism could lead to disciplinary action from the party’s founding members.
“When you speak about me, Edwin Sifuna, know that I am a founding member of ODM,” Ruto said.
“If you push me too far, I will call for a meeting of the founding members, and if we do, we can discipline you.”
At the same event, Sifuna had delivered a bold speech directed at the President, accusing his administration of creating unnecessary challenges for itself.
He referenced the recent Echoes of War controversy and urged Ruto to take control of his government.
“Like the Bishop mentioned, your job is very hard, and I agree because sometimes I wonder if you even get to sleep,” Sifuna said.
“But there are some difficulties you have imposed on yourself. Like the drama we saw in Nakuru, where Butere Girls’ High School students were stopped from performing—that’s a problem you have imposed on yourself.”
READ MORE:
Raila Odinga Junior Reacts to Edwin Sifuna’s Removal as ODM Secretary-General
CS Mbadi Breaks His Silence on Sifuna’s Ouster as ODM Party Secretary General
