The Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) Secretary General Edwin Sifuna has clarified that the party has not joined President William Ruto's government. Speaking on Thursday, Sifuna emphasized that no party body has approved joining Ruto's administration.
"As the secretary-general, I participate in all party organs and serve as their spokesperson. Kenyans deserve the truth amidst all the speculation about the significance of what occurred on Wednesday," Sifuna stated on Citizen TV. "The reality is that none of the ODM organs I am part of has made a decision to join the Ruto government."
Sifuna expressed concern over efforts to tarnish the ODM's reputation, particularly after party leader Raila Odinga attended the signing of the IEBC Bill into law at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC). He accused the media of misrepresenting the party's stance, especially in print.
"There seems to be a deliberate attempt to misrepresent the party's position, particularly by the print media," he added. "I am not pleased with how the media has reported events over the past few weeks."
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Sifuna clarified that the ODM party has only called for a national dialogue, which has been misinterpreted as a discussion between ODM and the ruling United Democratic Alliance (UDA).
His comments come in the wake of President Ruto appointing ODM deputy party leaders Hassan Joho and Wycliffe Oparanya, chairman John Mbadi, and National Assembly minority leader Opiyo Wandayi to his Cabinet. Joho was nominated as the Cabinet Secretary for Mining, Blue Economy, and Maritime Affairs; Oparanya for Cooperatives and MSME Development; Mbadi for the National Treasury; and Wandayi for Energy and Petroleum. These four appointments were part of Ruto's reconstitution of his cabinet, which included 16 other nominees.
However, Sifuna described the decisions of these four individuals to join Ruto's cabinet as personal choices that did not have the party's endorsement.
