Nairobi County Senator Edwin Sifuna has declared he would not support President William Ruto's re-election even if the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) Party Leader Raila Odinga backed him.
Speaking during an interview at Citizen TV on Thursday morning, Sifuna stated that it did not matter if the decision impacted his Senatorial seat as he had the pleasure of serving as the Nairobi Senator over the past five years but re-election was not a "life or death situation" for him.
"If Raila endorses Ruto, I will still not vote for Ruto, and I don’t have to run. The major assignment we have for 2027 is to make Ruto a one-term President because he is bad for the country," he declared.
"I have said that I don't have to be a Senator. I can just retire and go home and do sugarcane farming now that I hear he is paying farmers bonuses. This thing is not life or death for Sifuna."
He continued, "I have had the pleasure of serving as Senator for Nairobi. An honour that has been bestowed on me by the people of Nairobi. It is not a life-or-death situation. It is not a must. I can go and try athletics. Why are you forcing me to run?"
Sifuna was answering a question from a member of the audience who inquired whether he would still maintain his loyalty to Odinga if he decided to back the President's re-election.
The inquirer also wanted to know what the Senator would do if ODM joined another coalition with Wiper Party leader Kalonzo Musyoka and former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, fronting Kalonzo as the flagbearer. "Would he vie on a Wiper ticket?"
Sifuna, however, was quick to dismiss such an assertion, stating that his primary objective in 2027 was to vote against President Ruto and that running for a political seat was not a priority.
Although there had been speculation that Sifuna was eyeing the gubernatorial position to unseat Governor Johnson Sakaja, he debunked those rumours.
Speaking during a Spice FM interview in April 2024, he stated that he was content with his oversight position in the Senate and would not be engaging in early campaigns.
"I have said it publicly, I am not interested in being Governor of Nairobi. I am happy with the job that I have been given as Senator of Nairobi," Sifuna said.
Although a staunch supporter of Odinga and the current ODM Secretary-General, Sifuna has continued to criticise the Kenya Kwanza government despite the apparent split in the party's stance.
