Edwin Sifuna Opens Up on Day He Faced Raila Odinga’s Wrath Alone: “He Almost Killed Me”

Edwin Sifuna Opens Up on Day He Faced Raila Odinga’s Wrath Alone: “He Almost Killed Me”

Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna has offered a rare glimpse into his working relationship with the late former Prime Minister Raila Odinga, recounting a tense moment that nearly derailed his political career and exposed the pressures of serving at the highest levels of party leadership.

Speaking during an interview, the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) Secretary General described an incident in March 2021 when he found himself at the centre of a political storm after publicly stating that Raila would be on the ballot in the 2022 General Election—only for the party leader to later disown the claim.

At the time, ODM was finalising its internal nomination processes, and uncertainty over Raila’s candidature had triggered intense speculation among supporters, aspirants, and the media.

“I was under immense pressure from the media to confirm if Raila had submitted his papers,” Sifuna recalled. “Aspirants were also calling and asking for assurance before they decided what to do.”

According to Sifuna, the situation escalated after a high-level party meeting held on March 31, 2021, where the issue of Raila’s candidature remained unresolved. Faced with growing public anxiety, the Nairobi senator said he sought direct clarification from the ODM leader.

“I asked him to just allow me to say that he had submitted his papers and he would be on the ballot at least to ease the pressure, tension and anxiety,” he explained. “He agreed and said there was nothing wrong with that—you can go ahead. Everybody in the room heard it.”

Acting on what he believed was a green light, Sifuna briefed party officials and subsequently communicated the position to the media. However, the situation took a dramatic turn shortly afterwards.

“Baba called me. That is the day he almost killed me on the phone,” Sifuna recounted. “‘Edwin, where did you get my name? Who told you to put my name there? I never said it.’”

The sharp rebuke left him stunned and questioning his recollection of events. In a bid to verify his account, Sifuna said he reached out to other party officials who had attended the meeting, expecting them to corroborate his version.

Instead, he claims they distanced themselves from the earlier discussion.

“They all denied, including the guy who was sitting next to Baba. They denied, even when the media called them,” he said. “I wondered how, because they were there.”

The controversy deepened later that day when Raila allegedly instructed him to issue a statement attributing the announcement to an April Fool’s Day prank, a move that drew sharp criticism from sections of the media.

“At 3 pm, he called and told me we just have to bite the bullet. Write a statement and say that this was April Fool’s Day,” Sifuna said. “The following day, the newspaper editorials came after me, saying this is the problem of hiring juveniles in important positions.”

The incident, he noted, marked a turning point in his political journey, shaping his understanding of internal party dynamics and the complexities of leadership communication.

“That is the moral of the story. There are people who were with Raila, they heard him speak, but they will not say it in public,” he observed.

Despite the fallout, Sifuna has remained a key figure within ODM, though his tenure has not been without controversy. His position as Secretary General has recently come under scrutiny, with internal disciplinary processes initiated by the party leadership.

On April 3, ODM Chairperson Gladys Wanga issued a show-cause letter to Sifuna, formally commencing proceedings that could determine his future within the party. However, the matter was later referred back to ODM’s internal structures by the Political Parties Disputes Tribunal.

Political analysts argue that Sifuna’s revelations highlight the often-unseen tensions within party hierarchies, where communication breakdowns and competing interests can shape public narratives.

As ODM prepares for the 2027 General Election, the account adds a new layer to the ongoing discourse about leadership, loyalty, and internal cohesion within one of Kenya’s most influential political parties.

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Edwin Sifuna Opens Up on Day He Faced Raila Odinga’s Wrath Alone: “He Almost Killed Me”