Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna has declared that he will not resign as Secretary General of the Orange Democratic Movement, despite ongoing confusion in the party and growing frustration over its relationship with President William Ruto’s administration.

Speaking during an interview on Citizen TV on Tuesday night, Sifuna said ODM party leader Raila Odinga’s recent statements backing President Ruto until 2027 must be seen as the party’s official position.

However, he cautioned that this alignment risks leaving the party unprepared for the next General Election.

“So what he says is the position of the party. And for me, really, as SG of ODM, my worry is that if you stick with the current government until 2027, then you really don’t have the time to be able to prepare the party for elections,” he said.

He warned that by staying close to the ruling side, ODM risks missing the chance to explain to Kenyans what it stands for, and why it deserves their support again in 2027.

“Preparation for elections takes time, and the worry would be that we would have lost that opportunity to not only extricate ourselves from this very unpopular regime but also to explain to the people what we’ve been doing with Ruto all these years and why we are back to ask for the mandate of the people,” Sifuna said.

He insisted that the party had already committed to presenting a presidential candidate in the next election, and warned that the current approach could compromise that plan.

Sifuna noted that while the party has a clear leader, its internal democracy allows members to challenge and raise concerns about the direction being taken.

“The good thing with ODM is that we are allowed to file objections to the positions that are taken by the party. You are allowed to sound warnings, to sound alarms and to say that, in your view. We need to have sufficient time to explain to the people not only what we have been doing with Ruto but what we intend to do for the country if we are to present a candidate in 2027,” he said.

He expressed confidence that ODM still stands a strong chance of winning the presidency, saying the party has capable leaders and a strong foundation.

“My position has always been that ODM stands a very good chance to win the elections in 2027, and that we have good people in this party who can run the country, and that ODM has always been a force for good,” Sifuna said.

At the same time, he questioned the thinking of those within ODM who want to extend cooperation with the Kenya Kwanza administration beyond the 2027 elections.

“I don’t understand those within our ranks who don’t see us as a viable option to the Kenya Kwanza government, who want us to yoke ourselves to KK even beyond 2027,” he said.

Sifuna said he would not leave the party at a time when it needs rebuilding, noting that ODM remains a mass movement with deep grassroots support.

“The reason I will not resign yet is because I’ve not given up. I have not given up on members of ODM because ODM is a mass movement. ODM has a followership, registered membership of over five million people, and when you speak to a majority of those people, there is still belief and trust within the ranks of the party that Baba knows what is right for the people, that he will do the right thing,” he stated.

Despite this faith, he admitted that ODM is facing deep internal confusion.

“There’s a lot of confusion. I have told my party leader there was a time when it was very easy to be SG of ODM… right now there is a lot of confusion, because I come to these shows and to public barazas, and I struggle to explain that we are the same political party,” he said.

In a rare public apology, Sifuna acknowledged that the leadership had failed to offer clear direction.

“I want to apologise to members of ODM today for all the confusion we as a leadership have caused because it is very difficult now to discern the position of ODM on major issues. That is my biggest sadness, because it should be easy,” he said.

He highlighted the party’s inconsistent messaging on civil rights as one of the causes of public mistrust.

“If you woke me up in the middle of the night and asked me my position on devolution, my position on rights and Article 37, I would give you an answer straight away. But now, members of ODM who used to hold senior positions now speak as cabinet secretaries and say the exact opposite. It leaves our supporters confused,” he added.

Asked why he continues to hold his position despite the frustrations, Sifuna said he still has hope in his ability to help bring the party back on track.

“I have not given up. I believe in my own power of persuasion, even within the party, to be able to pull the train back on its tracks. On the day that I give up, I will tell you publicly that I have lost the battle to rescue this party and to bring it back to where it was. Until we cross that bridge, I will keep fighting for ODM,” he said.

He added that his long-standing loyalty to Raila Odinga and the party’s journey over two decades was another reason he could not simply walk away.

“I have known one political leader all my life… I have listened to Raila Odinga all these years, and ODM as an institution has existed for 20 years. You cannot just give up and say you are going to quit on all that membership,” he said.