Elders from Trans Nzoia County have urged Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna and Saboti Member of Parliament Caleb Amisi to resign from their respective dockets, days after they threatened to decamp from the Orange Democratic Party (ODM).
The two leaders had threatened to decamp the party if the ODM party leader, Raila Odinga, backs President William Ruto in the 2027 General Elections.
Speaking in a press briefing on Tuesday, August 5, the elders claimed that the statements issued by the two lawmakers were inciteful and projected them as unfit to be members of the party or any other leadership position.
According to the elders, the resignation of the two leaders would pave the way for a by-election where they would get a chance to prove that they can thrive in the political ecosystem without the support of ODM.
"We condemn their statement that they will leave the party if Raila Odinga backs President William Ruto in 2027. We are here to tell them to resign from ODM and come back and look for votes afresh, because the statement they issued was inciteful," an elder stated.
"The two leaders should resign today so that we may know if they are fit enough to lead the country without the support of Raila," another elder said.
The elders have further affirmed that they will be at the vanguard in supporting the partnership between Raila and President Ruto, who were once fierce rivals.
The statement by the elders comes days after Sifuna, who also serves as the ODM Secretary General, claimed that he would remain committed to ODM’s principles and would not be part of any deal that supports the ruling party beyond 2027.
Furthermore, Sifuna, who spoke at a public gathering on Sunday, August 3, dismissed criticism from a section of party supporters who are calling for his resignation, stressing that he will only step down if ODM enters a political pact with UDA.
“I will read all the updates and releases by the party, except one. The day they say ODM has agreed to join hands and support UDA in the 2027 elections—that I will not read,” Sifuna said.
On his part, the Saboti lawmaker, who spoke on Tuesday, July 29, claimed that he might also abandon the party in the next general elections if it continues working jointly with the Kenya Kwanza administration.
Amisi claimed that he will seek a ticket with another party in the next general elections. According to Amisi, the emerging political realignment was eroding the party's ideological stance.
''I am a member of ODM I was elected on an ODM ticket for five years. Until then, if ODM continues collaborating with William Ruto, then I will not seek re-election with that party,'' Amisi said.
