Nairobi County Assembly Majority Leader Peter Imwatok has defended ODM Secretary General Edwin Sifuna following his absence from the party’s Central Committee meeting held on Tuesday, dismissing claims that the matter should be politicised.
Imwatok said Sifuna’s failure to attend the meeting was due to logistical challenges, noting that such situations are common and unavoidable. He added that discussions around the 2027 General Election were premature and should be deferred to a later date.
“Our leader, Oburu Odinga has already confirmed that Sifuna missed his flight and was unable to attend. This was communicated by Sifuna himself, so why politicise the matter?” Imwatok said. “Many other leaders, including Junet, Osotsi and Abdulswamad, have missed ODM Central Committee meetings in the past. This should not be sensationalised.”
The ODM legislator also urged party leadership to hold off on making declarations or decisions related to the 2027 elections, arguing that such matters should be addressed at the appropriate time and through established party structures.
In addition, Imwatok has cautioned ODM’s top leadership against hastily entering into political arrangements with the ruling UDA government without first consulting the party’s membership. Speaking during a live interview on Ghetto Radio’s breakfast show, he said the views of grassroots members risk being sidelined in key decision-making processes.
“As ODM members, we owe it to ourselves to respect Baba’s last wishes. We must give our members time to grieve and reflect before rushing into political decisions,” Imwatok said. “Consultation must be wide and meaningful. The voices of our six million members must be heard before the party charts any new political direction.”
His remarks highlight growing internal debate within ODM over the party’s future strategy and engagement ahead of the 2027 General Election, with calls from some leaders for a more inclusive and consultative approach to major political decisions.
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