Senator Sifuna Slams State House For Deception After ODM MPs Snub Ruto Meeting
Hussein Mohamed, State House spokesperson, and Edwin Sifuna, Secretary-General of the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM), have had a heated disagreement.
According to reports, the dispute stems from reports that Nairobi Members of Parliament (MPs) refused to meet with President William Ruto on Monday.
The exchange has revealed underlying tensions between key political figures, raising concerns about the dynamics of the ODM’s collaboration with the Kenya Kwanza government.
The controversy began on Wednesday, September 11, when the Daily Nation published a front-page story with the headline, “Why Raila MPs Skipped Ruto Meeting.”
You are lying Omwami. https://t.co/Pza4FVGDhH
— Edwin Sifuna (@edwinsifuna) September 11, 2024
The inclusion of opposition figures in government has sparked mixed reactions, further exacerbating existing divisions within the ODM, particularly over Raila Odinga’s succession.
This growing schism not only jeopardizes opposition unity, but it also has the potential to cause instability in the larger political landscape.
If tensions between the ODM and the ruling Kenya Kwanza government continue, they could cause significant gridlock, slowing down critical government functions.
Such friction could jeopardize legislative processes, policy implementation, and service delivery, directly affecting ordinary Kenyans.
The article claimed that several ODM MPs had boycotted a State House meeting with the President, citing internal party discontent following ODM leader Raila Odinga’s political truce with Dr. Ruto.
According to the story, the MPs’ absence was due to their concerns about how their constituents would react to ODM’s perceived integration into the Kenya Kwanza government.
The State House quickly denied the allegations. Hussein Mohamed took to social media platform X (formerly Twitter) to dispute the reports, calling them inaccurate.
Press Statement on ‘Daily Nation’ misleading headline story:
— Hussein Mohamed, MBS. (@HusseinMohamedg) September 11, 2024
We have taken note of the splash story in the 'Daily Nation' today Wednesday 11th September 2024, titled "Why Raila MPs skipped Ruto meeting." The story is not only misleading, but also mischievous and baseless.
The…
“There was no formal meeting as suggested,” Hussein wrote. “The President inspected a housing project in Kibera on Monday, and that the few MPs who were present had only joined the President for an informal lunch afterward,” he asserted.
“State House communicates or invites MPs or any other individuals or groups through official channels only. For *Daily Nation* to base its story on a source outside these official channels is both misleading and irresponsible,” he stated.
Senator Edwin Sifuna, however, was unimpressed with the State House’s response and quickly dismissed the spokesperson’s statement.
“You are lying,” Sifuna responded, emphasizing that he and other ODM lawmakers had purposefully avoided the event.
“The President has no powers to convene members of ODM,” Sifuna continued, accusing President Ruto of overstepping his authority.
“I found the invitation disrespectful as it perpetuates nefarious political ends,” Sifuna was quoted stating on the piece by Nation.
Sifuna’s comments echoed dissatisfaction among some ODM legislators, who have grown increasingly concerned about the party’s improving relations with the Ruto administration.
Concerns have been raised about Raila Odinga’s party’s direction following his deal with President Ruto, which saw five ODM members appointed to the government’s Cabinet.
The absence of several prominent Nairobi ODM MPs from Monday’s meeting, including Sifuna, Anthony Oluoch (Mathare), Babu Owino (Embakasi East), and Tim Wanyonyi (Westlands), was interpreted as a silent protest.
Hussein Mohamed, for his part, remained defiant in the face of Sifuna’s accusations, citing his earlier statement that no formal meeting was called.
The State House spokesperson emphasized that any interactions between the President and MPs would be communicated officially, and reaffirmed that Monday’s events had been misrepresented.
Senator Sifuna Slams State House For Deception After ODM MPs Snub Ruto Meeting
