National Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi has taken a swipe at Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) Secretary General Edwin Sifuna following remarks perceived as casting aspersions on the status of the Sindo Road project.
In a strongly worded response, Mbadi reminded Sifuna that the Luo community has historically borne the burden of political liberation in Kenya and is now unapologetically shifting its focus towards economic freedom and development.
“Heard Edwin Sifuna cast aspersions on the status of Sindo Road. I wish to remind him, Luos have done enough of political liberation. Unapologetically, we are on a pathway towards economic freedom,” Mbadi stated.
The former Suba South MP went further to accuse Sifuna of engaging in what he termed “double-bet politics,” suggesting that the ODM Secretary General benefits from playing on both sides of the political divide while criticising development initiatives.
Mbadi’s remarks come amid growing internal debate within ODM and the broader opposition over engagement with President William Ruto’s administration, particularly on development projects in Nyanza and other traditional opposition strongholds.
The Sindo Road project has been a sensitive political issue, often cited in discussions around marginalisation, development delivery, and government commitment to infrastructure in the region. Mbadi’s defence of the project signals a broader push by some leaders to prioritise tangible economic gains over prolonged political confrontation.
His comments underscore an emerging narrative among sections of the Luo political leadership that the community must now leverage political capital to secure economic progress, infrastructure, and investment, rather than remain locked in perpetual opposition politics.
The sharp exchange also highlights widening ideological differences within ODM, as leaders debate the balance between political activism and pragmatic engagement with the government to deliver development for their constituents.
