Nairobi Senator and Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) Secretary General Edwin Sifuna has announced that the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between ODM and the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) is effectively “dead” following the controversial death of blogger and teacher Albert Ojwang in police custody.
Speaking at a public event in Mumias on Saturday, June 14, 2025, Sifuna asserted that the agreement, signed on March 7, 2025, between President William Ruto and ODM leader Raila Odinga, has been breached due to ongoing incidents of violence against young Kenyans.
“If you ask me as Sifuna, the Memorandum of Understanding of the Orange Democratic Party and the United Democratic Alliance is of no use as I speak today,” Sifuna stated, addressing a crowd in Mumias.
He emphasised that the MoU, intended to foster collaboration and implement the National Dialogue Committee (NADCO) report, included commitments to protect citizens from extrajudicial killings.
Sifuna pointed to Ojwang’s death as a direct violation, stating, “The only way you can breathe life into that agreement ni urudishe uhai wa Albert Ojwang na vijana wengine ambao wameuawa hapo mbele” (The only way to revive that agreement is to bring back the life of Albert Ojwang and other youths who have been killed).
Ojwang, a 31-year-old from Homa Bay, was arrested on June 6, 2025, over a social media post allegedly defaming Deputy Inspector-General of Police Eliud Lagat.
He died hours after being transferred to Nairobi’s Central Police Station on June 7, with a post-mortem revealing injuries consistent with assault, contradicting police claims of self-inflicted harm.
CCTV footage from Mbagathi Hospital, where Ojwang’s body was taken, showed a 24-minute delay before officers moved him from their vehicle, fuelling allegations of a cover-up.
Sifuna’s remarks, echoed in posts on X, have sparked widespread debate, with many users supporting his stance and accusing the government of failing to uphold the MoU’s terms.
“Mahali tumefika; it doesn’t matter what Ruto does,” Sifuna added, signalling ODM’s intent to distance itself from the ruling coalition.
The senator’s comments come amid internal ODM tensions, with some party members, like Homa Bay MP Peter Kaluma, criticising Sifuna for undermining the “broad-based government” formed by the MoU.
The MoU, signed at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre, aimed to address post-2022 election grievances through reforms outlined in the NADCO report.
However, Sifuna’s declaration marks a significant shift, with the senator vowing to hold the government accountable for alleged police brutality and abductions.
As public outrage grows over Ojwang’s death, Sifuna’s statement has intensified calls for justice and transparency, with activists and citizens demanding accountability for what many describe as systemic police misconduct.
