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ODM Secretary General Edwin Sifuna has declared that the opposition’s top priority ahead of the 2027 elections is to remove President William Ruto from office — a statement that quickly drew a sharp response from the President.
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Speaking during an interview on Citizen TV Tuesday night, Sifuna said removing Ruto is “a national priority,” dismissing claims by the President that the opposition lacks a solid alternative vision.
“I want the President to understand that his removal is not just an opposition goal — it is a national agenda. His administration goes against the spirit of the Constitution,” said Sifuna.
He argued that rather than focusing on development initiatives like roads, ports, or airport terminals, the real issue Kenya faces is poor governance.
“In my view, removing Ruto takes precedence over any infrastructure project — even building a second terminal at JKIA or expanding the highway from Malaba to Mombasa,” he stated.
Sifuna also pushed back against President Ruto’s claim that slogans like “Ruto Must Go” and “wantam” are unconstitutional, saying Kenyans have the constitutional right to limit a leader’s term through elections or impeachment.
“The Constitution is clear — the people hold the power. If we choose to give him one term, so be it. If we want to cut it short, there’s a legal process for that,” he added.
He warned of growing public frustration, citing alleged deaths during last year’s Saba Saba protests, and questioned what the future holds if the current administration continues unchanged for the next 800 days.
The ODM leader also said the party is prepared to field a strong presidential candidate in 2027 and hinted at the possibility of working with former Interior CS Fred Matiang’i.
“We have no shortage of leaders. This mission is bigger than individuals — if Matiang’i can help, we’ll work with him,” Sifuna said, while acknowledging he had shared his frustrations about the current regime with ODM leader Raila Odinga.
He noted Raila prefers a democratic path over violent protests and said the party is working on a peaceful approach to bring change.
In response, President Ruto, while officiating a bell-ringing ceremony at the Nairobi Securities Exchange on Wednesday, dismissed the opposition’s campaign as lacking substance.
“I hear the slogans — Ruto Must Go. Of course, my time will come and I will leave, like every other leader before me,” Ruto said.
He challenged the opposition to stop chanting and present real solutions.
“If you don’t agree with my policies, that’s fine. But give us your alternative plan. You can’t replace one agenda with nothing — that’s just conmanship,” he remarked.
The exchange comes as opposition figures including Kalonzo Musyoka, Rigathi Gachagua, and Matiang’i lead the “wantam” movement — a united front aiming to block Ruto from securing a second term in 2027.
