Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna has come to the defense of ODM leader Raila Odinga amidst criticism for agreeing to participate in a national dialogue with President William Ruto.
In an interview with The Standard, Sifuna stated that Raila has a mandate to represent his followers during the discussions announced by Ruto on Tuesday. “Raila is not going to represent Gen Z. Gen Z have said they are leaderless and Raila is not their leader. But there are people Baba (Raila) leads. Not everyone is leaderless and partyless. I have a party and I am the Secretary General of that party (ODM),” Sifuna asserted.
He emphasized that Raila’s role in the dialogue is to represent his party members. “We can’t sit as leaders and keep quiet as things happen in the country. Gen Z did their Space (X Spaces) with the president, did you see Sifuna or Raila there? No. So Raila is a leader to some people and those are the people he is going to represent, not everyone is leaderless,” he added.
Raila faced backlash on Tuesday after he and Ruto agreed on a six-day national dialogue to address pressing national issues, including recent concerns from Gen Z regarding Ruto’s administration. Many Kenyans took to social media to express their discontent, accusing Raila of betraying the movement for change and better governance.
The criticism highlights the expectations of many Kenyans who hoped Raila would remain an unwavering opponent of Ruto’s administration, especially as he seeks support for the AU Commission chairmanship. Ruto’s government has recently faced deadly protests, particularly after parliament passed the controversial Finance Bill 2024, which proposed higher taxes. These protests led Ruto to withdraw the bill and promise austerity measures to cut government spending.
The dissatisfaction extends to MPs and government officials, who have been criticized for endorsing punitive policies and displaying opulence while many Kenyans struggle with poverty.
As the national dialogue progresses, the focus will be on whether it can address the concerns of all Kenyans, including those who feel unrepresented by the current political leadership.
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