ODM Party Secretary General has refuted claims that the opposition party has joined the Kenya Kwanza Government.
Kenyans on Wednesday, July 24 said that the Raila Odinga-led party had ditched the opposition and joined President William Ruto’s administration after four of its officials were nominated to the new ‘broad-based’ government.
In his new Cabinet, President Ruto has nominated ODM Deputy Party Leaders Hassan Joho and Wycliffe Oparanya, ODM Chairperson John Mbadi and National Assembly Minority Leader Opiyo Wandayi to different dockets
But speaking on Citizen TV on Thursday, July 25 morning, Sifuna said that the four have joined government in their own individual capacity, and do not have the blessings of the ODM Party.
“CS nominees John Mbadi, Opiyo Wandayi, Wycliffe Oparanya and Hassan Joho do not have the blessings of ODM Party. They have joined Government in their individual capacity, and we don’t begrudge them, I wish them well,” Sifuna said.
Sifuna, who is also the Nairobi County Senator, insists that for ODM to join government, there has to be a binding document just like the Kenya Kwanza affiliate parties signed pre-election.
“The President has a prerogative to nominate any person to his Cabinet. John Mbadi, Wycliffe Oparanya, Hassan Joho and Opiyo Wandayi have been tapped by President William Ruto and they have accepted. But for you to say ODM has joined Gov’t is an open lie.”
On his part, Kisumu Senator Prof. Tom Ojienda said he is happy because the prophesies “we have made over the years have come to pass.”
“Intra-party coalitions and interactions are contemplated in our Constitution,” Senator Ojienda said.
Senator Ojienda dismissed Sifuna’s assertions that the four ODM luminaries joined Kenya Kwanza Gov’t in their individual capacity.
“The reality is ODM and UDA are working together. It is not possible that two deputy leaders of a political party (Hassan Joho and Wycliffe Oparanya), the chair of a political party (John Mbadi) and the Minority Leader (Opiyo Wandayi) can join Gov’t without the knowledge of the Sec. General (Edwin Sifuna), and the nod of Raila Odinga.”
