Wajir Governor Ahmed Abdulahi slams Edwin Sifuna over Raila-Ruto memorandum criticism
Governor Ahmed added that Sifuna has a right to his opinion, but should be cognizant of other divergent views in the political outfit over the Raila-Ruto pact and the latter’s suitability for re-election.
Wajir Governor Ahmed Abdulahi has told off Orange Democratic Movement (ODM secretary-general Edwin Sifuna for rubbishing former Prime Minister Raila Odinga’s memorandum with President William Ruto.
Speaking in Garissa on Thursday in a function attended by top leaders from the northern frontier region, Governor Ahmed said Sifuna's disdain for President Ruto shall not deter the party from working closely with the government.
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Governor Ahmed noted that Sifuna should be cognizant of other divergent views in the political outfit over the Raila-Ruto pact and the latter’s suitability for re-election.
“You can hate Ruto if you want. Come with whichever candidate you want, but also allow those who are okay with him to have a choice, and when the vote is cast peacefully and counted, let the minority have their say and the majority have their way,” said Ahmed.
He also expressed confidence in the newly appointed Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) commissioners, saying they should be facilitated and allowed to work.
“Let us believe in institutions and allow them to work. I am a believer that the current commissioners of IEBC will stand to be counted and carry out a fair electoral process, and we will go into elections as a united Kenya and come out of it still united,” said Governor Ahmed.
Ahmed’s remarks on Sifuna were prompted by Garissa Senator, Abdul Haji, who earlier sought clarity on why the party was castigating Ruto while working closely with his Kenya Kwanza administration.
“The Wajir governor is an official in the ODM party. Please, governor, if your party decided that you have a national priority agenda, let it be an agenda of your party, but not a national one. Please talk to your party because Sifuna has lost his way,” said Senator Abdul.
In the Garissa meeting, leaders backing Ruto pushed Odinga to adequately pronounce himself on Sifuna's statements, demanding to know if the secretary-general was speaking independently or with the tacit approval of the ODM party leader.
According to Sifuna, Ruto's Kenya Kwanza government has undermined devolution and deliberately strangled opposition parties financially.
“We are aware that ODM’s funding has been slashed by Sh42 million. This is political sabotage meant to weaken us,” said Sifuna. “How do we go from Sh450 billion to Sh405 billion for counties, and call that progress? Devolution is being murdered in broad daylight.”
He also blasted the administration for stifling criticism, saying the state's response to Butere Girls High School's Echoes of the War bore the hallmarks of dictatorship.
“We are now at a point where school children cannot express themselves artistically without threats of punishment from the State House,” Sifuna added. “That’s not democracy, that’s dictatorship.”
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