Nandi Senator Samson Cherargei has taken a swipe at his Nairobi counterpart, Edwin Sifuna, demanding his immediate removal as the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) party Secretary General.
In a statement on Sunday, October 19, moments after former Prime Minister Raila Odinga's burial in Bondo, Siaya County, the lawmaker accused Sifuna of sabotaging ODM's political success.
He criticised Sifuna for openly undermining the party's affiliation with President William Ruto's broad-based administration, terming him 'the biggest threat to ODM's growth'.
According to Cherargei, while the rest of the party members publicly declared their support for the broad-based government, Sifuna was the only person who came out to defy the alignment.
While criticising the Nairobi Senator, Cherargei called on the party leadership to consider dismissing Sifuna from the ODM party before the end of this year.
"The entire ODM leadership, except Sifuna, have confirmed that Raila Odinga instructed them to stay and work with President Ruto's administration under a broad-based government," Cherargei commented.
"The biggest threat to the growth of ODM to be in government or to form government in the future is the Sifuna and company. By the end of this year, 2025, he must be removed from ODM as the Secretary General," he added.
He went ahead to claim that Sifuna was out to weaken the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed early this year between Raila and President William Ruto, further labelling Sifuna as the opposition mole in ODM.
Sifuna was among the key speakers during the burial ceremony of the former Prime Minister, where he defended the party, urging ODM members to remain united.
Speaking on Sunday, October 19, the lawmaker insisted that the party would strictly follow Raila's directive that ODM would field candidates in all elective positions in 2027.
"I want to say that Raila Odinga was a great man who understood Kenyans. I want to encourage ODM leaders to stay together and listen to what Kenyans want," Sifuna said.
He went on to add, "Raila openly spoke last month, and he said it himself that the ODM party will field candidates in 2027. Let no one call me out over this."
