Nairobi senator and ODM secretary general Edwin Sifuna hogged the attention at the burial of the late Raila Odinga on Sunday, October 19.
Mourners gathered at the Jaramogi Oginga Odinga University of Science and Technology (JOOUST) to bid farewell to a consequential and towering political figure who took his last breath at the age of 80.
At his chance to address the mourners, Sifuna appreciated Raila Odinga for mentoring him to being the political personality he is today.
Sifuna paid a heartfelt tribute to Raila, thanking him for mentoring him into the political personality he is today.
"I am Baba's son. I have been extremely privileged to have met Baba, learned under him, and finally served him as his Secretary General for the last eight years. I will eternally be grateful for the opportunity you gave me. I have never had the chance to ask why you picked me. We have attended many funerals together, and I used to believe Baba would be present at mine. I often asked myself what I would say on that dreadful day when we would bury our Baba. Today, words fail me," Sifuna said.
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At the same time, the senator insisted that the ODM party would not play second fiddle to any other outfit in the 2027 vote.
The senator explained that the position Raila pronounced in September before his death would the position of the party as regards in the next general election.
"Baba Raila Odiga spoke openly to the country on September 22 to the ODM MPs. I asked leaders not to come up with non-existent statements. Baba said that ODM must prepare for the 2027 General Election. To those spreading non-existent pronouncements, Baba wondered where you got all that from," Sifuna said.
This came as Ruth Odinga, the younger sister of Raila and Kisumu County Woman Representative, issued a warning to dissenting voices within the ODM party.
While addressing mourners at Raila’s funeral, Ruth shared that her brother had already outlined the party’s future course well before his passing.
She disclosed that she had been entrusted with a message meant for ODM members, emphasizing Raila’s desire for unity and strength within the party to enable strategic partnerships.
Currently, ODM is being led on an interim basis by Siaya Senator Oburu Oginga, chosen for his close association with Raila and his political experience.
He will serve in this role until a substantive leader is elected.
Even during Raila’s tenure, internal disagreements persisted, particularly over the party’s engagement with President Ruto’s administration.
In March, Raila initiated a working relationship with the ruling UDA party, a move that triggered divisions within ODM, with factions either backing or opposing the alliance.
Oburu is known to favuor collaboration with the government, and his leadership may steer the party further in that direction.
On the other side, Senator Sifuna, who also serves as ODM’s Secretary General, leads the opposing faction.
Despite Raila’s push for the partnership with UDA, Sifuna and his allies voiced strong objections, arguing that aligning with the president would betray the public, given their criticism of his governance.
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