Nairobi Senator Edwin W. Sifuna has declared that removing President William Samoei Ruto from office will not be easy, but insisted the opposition must try amid fears of electoral manipulation.
In a statement posted on his social media pages, Sifuna acknowledged the uphill task ahead but signaled a determined push against the Kenya Kwanza administration.
“Tunajua kumwondoa Ruto mamlakani haitakua rahisi. Lakini hatuwezi kosa kujaribu kwa sababu watu wanaamini ati ataiba kura. Tutapambana!” he wrote.
Translated, the senator said they know it will not be easy to remove Ruto from power, but they cannot fail to attempt it because many Kenyans believe the vote could be stolen. “We will fight,” he added.
His remarks come against the backdrop of simmering tensions within the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM), where divisions have widened over how to relate with the government.
A section of ODM leaders has recently taken a softer stance toward Ruto, citing the need for national dialogue and implementation of bipartisan agreements arising from talks between the opposition and government. Others, including Sifuna, have maintained a hardline position, accusing the administration of economic mismanagement and democratic backsliding.
The rift has played out publicly, with Siaya Senator Oburu Oginga urging party members to embrace cooperation and avoid perpetual confrontation.
Oburu has previously argued that engagement with the government does not amount to betrayal of the party’s ideals, saying dialogue can deliver tangible benefits to supporters. His remarks were seen as a direct rebuttal to those pushing for a combative approach.
The divisions have also raised questions about the party’s direction under ODM leader Raila Odinga, especially following the bipartisan talks that followed last year’s anti-government protests over the high cost of living and electoral reforms.
Sifuna’s latest comments are likely to deepen the fault lines within the party as the country inches closer to the next electoral cycle, with debates over the credibility of the electoral system once again taking center stage.
There was no immediate response from State House on the senator’s remarks.
