Outspoken Nominated Senator Karen Nyamu has launched a scathing political attack against embattled Nairobi Senator and Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) Secretary General Edwin Sifuna, accusing him of lacking the political courage to chart an independent path outside the shadow of aging opposition heavyweights.
In a comprehensive and deeply critical statement, Nyamu argued that Sifuna’s persistent lobbying for a unified opposition coalition is not born out of ideological conviction, but rather an deep-seated fear of facing President William Ruto’s political machinery head-on. She alleged that the Nairobi Senator is actively allowing his political trajectory to be manipulated by external forces and shadowy financiers rather than his own vision.
“Sifuna has a golden opportunity to lead a fresh movement, but he keeps chaining himself to failed brands and retired political projects ati (in the name of) united opposition,” Nyamu fired out. “Ata kama ni kuogopa Ruto, hio ya Sifuna imezidi (Even if it’s about fearing Ruto, Sifuna’s fear is completely exaggerated).”
According to Nyamu, for Sifuna to truly evolve into a formidable, standalone political force, he must first stop clinging to his executive position within the orange party—an organization she claims he has already abandoned ideologically. She hinted at growing internal rifts within the minority faction, alleging that Sifuna is merely playing a script written by wealthy backers aiming to fragment the country’s oldest opposition party from within.
“If Sifuna was his own man, first he would stop fighting to be SG of a party he already distanced himself from. The project to divide ODM is not his, it belongs to his financier,” Nyamu boldly claimed.
The United Democratic Alliance (UDA) lawmaker insisted that rather than getting entangled in the repetitive cycle of building election-bound coalitions, Sifuna should step out on his own, articulate a distinct personal philosophy, and allow the electorate to judge him on his individual merit. Nyamu concluded by stating that the contemporary Kenyan political landscape is ripe for a genuine, independent alternative led by younger leaders, but lamented that Sifuna appears too timid to seize the moment.
The sharp public lecture has set the stage for a fresh political showdown in the capital, highlighting the intensifying geopolitical realignments as younger politicians scramble to position themselves ahead of future electoral cycles. Sifuna has yet to issue a formal counter-response to Nyamu’s hard-hitting claims.
