Former Prime Minister Raila Odinga at a past event
The ODM party has denied reports carried by media outlets in the past week that its leader, Raila Odinga, is quitting politics.
In a strongly worded statement, Secretary General Edwin Sifuna dismissed the malicious report about Odinga and put his position into perspective.
“The media report in question was made in absolute bad faith,” Sifuna declared. “It is designed to create despondency among our supporters and undermine the party’s unity.”
Sifuna said Raila Odinga had made a public declaration of his candidature for the chairmanship of the African Union Commission in the elections set for February 2025.
“Rt. Hon. Raila Odinga has himself told the country on several occasions that he is seeking to vie for the AUC chairmanship. There is absolutely nothing like a stepping-down or retiring from party leadership that is true.”.
The Secretary General confronted the speculations head-on, castigating the media’s insinuation that ODM was already laying ground for Odinga’s exit as early as next month to concentrate on his campaigns in AUC.
“As matters stand now, neither Raila Odinga nor the Orange Democratic Movement has declared his resignation from leading the party,” said Sifuna, who reiterated that the leadership and direction of the party were intact.
Besides, the media report had insinuated that influential ODM leaders were being lined up as potential replacements for Odinga.
Sifuna immediately rejected the claim with emphasis that ODM members and supporters “treat the media report with the contempt it deserves.” He called on this in order not to disturb party cohesion and sow doubt among the party rank and file.
In response to these false reports, Sifuna recommitted the ODM party to its leadership structure and to its electoral goals.
It was a statement meant categorically to dispel confusion and rally the party’s supporters around Odinga’s continued leadership and the upcoming strategic goals of the ODM party.
