Migori County Woman Representative, Ms Fatuma Mohammed, popularly known as “Fatuma Full Network,” delivered a scathing speech on Saturday at Ong’er Grounds in Nyatike Constituency during a women and youth empowerment event attended by Deputy President Proff Kithure Kindiki.
In her address, she issued a stern warning to Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) Secretary General, Senator Edwin Sifuna, for his recent public criticism of the party’s participation in the broad-based government, emphasizing the need for loyalty and respect toward ODM leader Raila Odinga, fondly referred to as “Baba.”
Fatuma’s remarks were a direct response to Sifuna’s statements on Citizen TV’s “The Explainer” on July 22, 2025, where he declared the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between ODM and President William Ruto’s United Democratic Alliance (UDA) “dead.”
Sifuna cited the government’s failure to uphold key tenets of the agreement, particularly pointing to the death of teacher and blogger Albert Ojwang in police custody as evidence of ongoing extrajudicial killings.
“On the day that Albert Ojwang died in a police cell, to me this agreement is dead,” Sifuna stated, expressing frustration over the party’s alignment with the Kenya Kwanza administration.
He further admitted to internal party tensions, noting that ODM was grappling with “confusion and internal contradictions” that made it difficult to articulate the party’s stance.
Addressing the crowd, Fatuma underscored the importance of respecting Odinga and the party’s decisions, warning Sifuna against undermining the leadership.
“Our party is the Orange Democratic Movement, but democracy also comes with respect. We cannot allow, and we shall not allow, and we have never allowed Baba to be disrespected just because you are someone in the party,” she declared.
She specifically challenged Sifuna’s authority, stating, “You might have served that party longer than me, but I want to tell you as I stand here, I came in as independent, meaning I have more powers than you. You didn’t become a senator without that party.”
Fatuma emphasized ODM’s commitment to the broad-based government, saying, “When Baba said we are in broadbase, we are in broadbase. If you feel it’s not broad enough for you, get out of there, start your own party, and go and disrespect others.”
She warned that disrespecting Odinga would bring shame to detractors, adding, “When Baba left, do you see how many people have left Baba’s party? He left us to go to war.”
In a pointed directive, she cautioned Sifuna, stating, “We are giving you a warning not to set foot in Nyatike, Migori County.”
The event, attended by Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi, Migori Governor Ochillo Ayacko, Nyatike MP Tom Odege, Migori Senator Eddy Oketch, and other leaders, focused on economic empowerment for women and youth.
Deputy President Kindiki praised Odinga’s statesmanship and commitment to national unity, aligning with Fatuma’s call for party Sifuna’s remarks have sparked significant controversy within ODM, with some leaders, including Mbadi and Homa Bay Town MP Peter Kaluma, criticizing him for undermining party unity.
Mbadi questioned Sifuna’s authority, stating, “Between the Party Leader and the Secretary General, whose decision is final?”
Kaluma urged Sifuna to either support the MoU or resign, accusing him of double standards.
However, Odinga defended Sifuna’s right to dissent during a delegates’ conference in Kakamega on July 25, 2025, emphasizing ODM’s democratic principles and urging party members to address grievances through internal organs rather than public.
About the Author
