Kenyan Senator Edwin Sifuna has rejected growing calls for him to resign from his Senate seat, citing the financial burden of a by-election just ten months before the 2027 General Election. Sifuna defended his decision to remain in office despite charting a new political path outside the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) party. He made these remarks during a press conference at his Nairobi office on Friday, October 9, 2026.
Sifuna drew comparisons with President William Ruto, questioning why he was being pressured to resign when other politicians had changed political parties without vacating their seats. He cited Ruto's move to the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) without resigning from his presidential seat. Sifuna emphasized that he remains a card-carrying ODM member and was elected to the Senate on the party's ticket, describing his election as a five-year contract with Nairobi residents.
Recently, Sifuna unveiled The Equitable Party (TEP) as his political vehicle for the 2027 General Election, signalling his intention to contest the presidency. He is among the prominent figures in the Linda Mwananchi faction, a group of ODM politicians opposed to backing Ruto's re-election bid. Sifuna maintained that he would formally leave ODM closer to the next General Election.
The senator argued that requiring politicians who no longer intend to seek re-election on ODM tickets to resign would trigger unnecessary by-elections across the country. He said such a move would effectively force taxpayers to finance a mini general election just months before the scheduled national polls. This, he claimed, would place an unnecessary financial burden on taxpayers.
Sifuna accused his critics of applying double standards, arguing that he had faced disproportionate scrutiny over his decision to seek another party's ticket. He pointed to politicians who had left UDA for other political parties, saying they had not faced similar demands to resign from their elected positions. Sifuna described this as hypocrisy.
The Nairobi senator maintained that politicians should be allowed to complete their elected terms even when they decide to pursue their next political ambitions under different parties. He emphasized that ODM's current political alignment had left him with no viable space to pursue his ambitions within the party.
Sifuna's decision has sparked mixed reactions among Kenyans, with some supporting his stance and others calling for his resignation. As the 2027 General Election approaches, Sifuna's move is seen as a significant development in Kenyan politics. His decision to contest the presidency under a new party has raised questions about the future of ODM and its alliances.
Key points
- Sifuna rejects calls to resign from Senate seat
- Senator cites financial burden of by-election ahead of 2027 polls
- Sifuna unveils new party, The Equitable Party, for 2027 presidential bid
