Sifuna Declares He Won’t Back Ruto, Even If Raila Endorses Him

Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna has made it clear that he will not support President William Ruto’s re-election bid in 2027—even if ODM leader Raila Odinga endorses him.

Speaking during an interview on Citizen TV on Thursday morning, Sifuna said his opposition to Ruto’s presidency was unwavering, regardless of political realignments. He emphasized that he was not afraid of the potential consequences on his political career, stating that re-election was not a "life-or-death" matter for him.

“If Raila endorses Ruto, I will still not vote for Ruto, and I don’t have to run. The major assignment we have for 2027 is to make Ruto a one-term President because he is bad for the country,” he declared.

The senator reiterated that he was prepared to step away from politics if necessary. “I have said that I don’t have to be a senator. I can just retire and go home and do sugarcane farming now that I hear he is paying farmers bonuses. This thing is not life or death for me,” he added.

Sifuna was responding to a question from an audience member who inquired whether he would remain loyal to Odinga if the opposition leader backed Ruto. The inquirer also sought to know if Sifuna would consider running on a Wiper Party ticket if ODM formed an alliance with Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka and former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, fronting Kalonzo as the presidential candidate.

Dismissing the speculation, Sifuna made it clear that his primary focus in 2027 was to vote against Ruto, rather than secure a political seat for himself.

Amid speculation that he could challenge Governor Johnson Sakaja for the Nairobi gubernatorial seat, Sifuna maintained that he was content with his current role in the Senate. Speaking in an earlier interview on Spice FM in April 2024, he dismissed the possibility of vying for governor.

“I have said it publicly, I am not interested in being Governor of Nairobi. I am happy with the job that I have been given as Senator of Nairobi,” he asserted.

As ODM’s Secretary-General, Sifuna has remained one of Ruto’s fiercest critics, even as cracks appear within the opposition party over its stance on the Kenya Kwanza administration.