ODM will Field Presidential Candidate in 2027, Sifuna Declares
Acting party leader Oburu Odinga speaking to ODM delegates in Mombasa. (Photo By George Otieno)
By George Otieno
Email, thecoastnewspaper@gmail.com
The Orange Democratic party (0DM) will field a presidential candidate in the 2027 general elections, the party’s secretary general senator Edwin Sifuna has declared.
While affirming that the party will proceed with its 20th anniversary celebrations in Mombasa, as scheduled from November 14, Sifuna further said the anniversary will also be used as a remembrance for the late Odinga.
Pledging his loyalty to ODM, Sifuna said ODM will field candidate in the general elections, and he dismissed the idea of a broad-based joint candidature as untenable.
“We will go it alone as ODM. Don’t be cheated that we will have broad-based candidates, because there is no party called broad-based”, he added.
The Nairobi senator was upbeat that the ODM party can field a presidential candidate and win.
“Let me tell you, if Sifuna or any other person vies with ODM ticket, I assure you, he or she will win presidency in 2027. I am loyal to ODM.To make a party to be as dominant as ODM is not easy, therefore I personally confirm that i will continue to be a member”, he added.
Sifuna also dismissed politicians who claim they had a chat with Odinga over the party’s future, before his death laughing multiplicity of narratives by individuals each giving his/her own version.
“Every one claims what Baba as allegedly told him or her. The only reliable story is one that where Baba said in presence of many legislators, and that position is that he intended ODM to have its own candidate in 2027,” the party’s SG quipped.
His sentiments were echoed by acting party leader Oburu Odinga speaking to ODM delegates in Mombasa, who affirmed that ODM is positioning itself for the next government.
Oburu said ODM will not lose its identity despite being in the broad-based government adding that political parties’ strength lies in numbers.
“Nobody will respect you without numbers; that is why we must remain in the party. I tell you, if they extend money to you, take it but know that your heart lies in ODM’,” stated Oburu.
Oburu also thanked Mombasa Governor Abdulswamad Sherrif Nassir for proposing him to the party’s mantle.
“Iam serving my 7th term in Parliament, I started in 1974 as a councilor in Kisumu, became MP for Bondo, EALA Mp, one nomination as Mp and now Senator for Siaya. This just shows you that i qualify to lead ODM. I thank Nassir for proposing my name”, he said.
The Siaya senator further narrated how the death of his brother sent him into a shock, revealing that he had a strong bond with Raila, who was his younger brother by 13 months.
“The death of my brother hit me hard because Raila and I grew up together; we consulted each other a lot. He was not only my brother but a confidant”, he stated.
On his part Nassir, who is the party’s deputy party leader, urged its members to be steadfast saying ODM will no longer be an opposition party, as it will seek to win presidency in 2027 or be enjoined in the government of the day.
Nassir said: “We do not do all these things, like preparing our party, print t-shirts etc. for nothing. We want the top seat. Let others also take that opposition post”.
