Nairobi Senator and Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) Secretary-General Edwin Sifuna has declared that removing President William Ruto from office is no longer just a party goal it is now a national agenda. According to Sifuna, many Kenyans across the country are unhappy with Ruto’s leadership and want change.
Speaking during a television interview on May 8, 2025, Senator Sifuna said that ODM is fully committed to making President Ruto a one-term president. He confirmed that the party is preparing to challenge Ruto in the 2027 general election and believes it has strong support from the public.
“Our plan is clear: President Ruto must be voted out in 2027. This is not just ODM’s mission anymore. It’s something many Kenyans want,” Sifuna said. Sifuna explained that President Ruto is losing support, even in areas where he was once popular. He said that during Ruto’s recent tours across the country, many people showed frustration rather than support.
He also claimed that communities that have traditionally supported opposition leader Raila Odinga are being ignored by the current government. According to Sifuna, regions like Nyanza, the Coast, and parts of the Rift Valley are not receiving equal development and attention under Ruto’s leadership. “This is no longer about ODM or Raila Odinga. People from across Kenya are saying the same thing: Ruto’s government is failing them,” Sifuna said.
Sifuna has been one of the president’s most vocal critics. Over the past year, he has accused Ruto of weakening key government institutions and undermining the Constitution of Kenya, which was passed in 2010. He pointed out that Ruto originally opposed the Constitution during its creation and is now working against its values.
In early 2025, Sifuna criticized Ruto for starting campaigns too early for the next election, saying the president has been in “campaign mode” since his days as Deputy President, instead of focusing on solving the country’s problems.
Sifuna also warned that President Ruto’s poor performance could cost him the 2027 election, even if opposition parties were to support him. “Even if ODM decided to support Ruto—which we won’t—he would still lose,” he said.
In June 2024, during protests against the controversial Finance Bill, Senator Sifuna called on President Ruto to resign. At the time, he said the president had failed the country and that people no longer had confidence in his leadership.
“Kenyans are telling you to go because you have failed. Step down,” Sifuna said during a protest in Nairobi.
Senator Edwin Sifuna’s remarks show that opposition to President Ruto’s leadership is growing and spreading beyond ODM supporters. By calling the push to remove Ruto a “national agenda,” Sifuna is framing it as a shared concern for many citizens—not just a political battle.
With the 2027 general election on the horizon, it’s clear that ODM plans to lead a strong campaign to defeat Ruto at the ballot. Whether or not they succeed, Sifuna’s comments show the increasing pressure the president faces as discontent rises across the country.
