The Lower Eastern Times Opening The Third Eye
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The political truce between President William Ruto and opposition leader Raila Odinga appears to be unraveling, with top ODM figures declaring the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between their parties effectively void.
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On Saturday, ODM Secretary General Edwin Sifuna dismissed the agreement as “worthless,” citing ongoing cases of abductions and extrajudicial killings—issues that were central to the MoU signed in March 2024 following deadly anti-government protests.
Speaking at a funeral service, Sifuna, also Nairobi Senator and the party’s official spokesperson, said the recent killing of social media influencer Albert Ojwang’ signaled the collapse of the political ceasefire.
“As far as I’m concerned, that MoU holds no value. It is not functioning,” Sifuna said, addressing mourners alongside ODM Deputy Party Leader Godfrey Osotsi. “At this point, nothing Ruto does can salvage that deal. The only way to revive it is by bringing back the lives of Albert and other victims.”
He accused the government of repeatedly violating the ten-point agreement ODM and UDA had reached, especially concerning protection of youth and an end to state-led violence.
“How do we reconcile a deal meant to end youth killings with the fact that a young man was abducted from his home in Homa Bay and murdered in a Nairobi police cell?” he asked. “Recently, two youths were tortured, mutilated and dumped in Nakuru. That’s why this MoU no longer makes sense.”
Sifuna insisted that the time for empty promises was over and demanded meaningful action.
His remarks came just days after similar comments in the Senate by Godfrey Osotsi, who accused the UDA of betrayal and warned that ODM was reconsidering its engagement with the ruling party.
“We had an MoU that was supposed to prevent incidents like Ojwang’s killing,” Osotsi said. “If we don’t receive satisfactory responses from the government, we will deem the MoU violated.”
ODM Executive Director Oduor Ong’wen also expressed concern over the resurgence of extrajudicial killings, saying the party is deeply troubled by the situation. “Our MPs addressed the issue in a press briefing, and our youth leaders have spoken out strongly,” he told The Star Newspaper.
He added, “These acts are unacceptable. ODM cannot be associated with such injustices.”
The party’s discontent reflects growing disillusionment within the opposition over the government’s failure to uphold its promises and the continued targeting of civil society and youth activists.
Although Raila Odinga has maintained a reserved tone, pressure is mounting on him to condemn the government’s human rights record more forcefully. In response to Ojwang’s death, Raila called for police accountability.
“Ojwang’ now joins a tragic and growing list of young Kenyans whose lives have been unjustly cut short by police brutality,” Raila said in a recent statement. “Beyond the personal grief these deaths cause, they also damage the credibility of the police and the state—bringing us dangerously close to national disorder.”
