Lawyer and President Ruto's senior advisor, Makau Mutua, has advised Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna to resign as the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) Secretary General.
On Wednesday, Makau took to social media to call for Sifuna's resignation, arguing that the Senator finds himself in an untenable position within the party structure.
The presidential advisor suggested that resignation would be honorable for someone claiming to be principled.
"My good learned friend and Senator Edwin Sifuna appears to be in an UNTENABLE position as SG of ODM Party. It seems to me that the honorable thing for him to do if he's a man of principle is to resign his post, which rarely happens in Kenya, unless one is sacked,” Makau wrote on his social platform.
This marks the second time in recent weeks that Mutua has publicly criticized Sifuna's conduct.
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In July 2025, the presidential senior advisor urged Kenyans to stop overreacting to Sifuna's remarks, stating that "folks should stop having conniptions over comments by Edwin Sifuna. Democracy is often loud and rancorous, and yes, contentious and consequentialist."
However, Mutua's tone has shifted significantly, with the latest comments suggesting a more serious assessment of Sifuna's position within the party hierarchy.
Sifuna's challenges within ODM have been mounting since the party's controversial decision to join President William Ruto's broad-based government. The move, which saw several ODM stalwarts appointed to Cabinet positions, has created deep divisions within the Orange Party.
Former ODM chairman and current Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi recently criticized Sifuna during an interview with Ramogi TV, questioning his authority within the party structure.
Mbadi emphasized that Raila Odinga's decision remains final between the party leader and secretary general, effectively undermining Sifuna's position.
The Treasury CS revealed that Cabinet Secretaries who accepted positions in the Kenya Kwanza administration did so with Raila Odinga's complete knowledge and approval, following extensive consultations with President Ruto.
The pressure on Sifuna has been compounded by his public admissions about ODM's internal struggles. Speaking at a local channel in July, the Nairobi Senator acknowledged that the party no longer speaks with one voice and admitted to confusion about ODM's current ideological stance.
"Right now, there is a lot of confusion. I told my party leader that there was a time when it was easy to be the SG of ODM. You could wake me up at night, and I would answer any question because we never compromised on values," Sifuna confessed.
He expressed difficulty articulating ODM's position on fundamental issues, including constitutional rights, devolution, and Article 37 freedoms, attributing this to fragmented messaging and conflicting political loyalties within the party.
