ODM Secretary General Edwin Sifuna. Photo: Courtesy
Nairobi Senator and ODM Secretary-General Edwin Sifuna has marked the 81st birthday of the late former Prime Minister Raila Odinga with a tribute that also highlighted the struggles facing the party since his passing.
In his message, Sifuna described Raila, affectionately known as “Baba,” as a leader whose life exemplified courage, sacrifice, and an unwavering commitment to freedom and justice.
“Many of us are no closer to overcoming this loss than we were two months ago,” he said, reflecting on the void left in both the party and the nation.
Sifuna warned that the past two months have seen ODM confront a rising culture of internal division, intolerance, and threats to the multiparty democracy Raila championed.
He noted that Baba’s vision for Kenya included robust political diversity, free expression, and equitable resource sharing, principles he safeguarded through multipartyism and the 2010 Constitution.
The senator urged ODM members and those mentored by Raila to remain committed to his ideals.
“We do not have the luxury of rest, nor do we possess any fear in pursuit of Raila’s ideals,” Sifuna stated, calling for a renewed political renaissance aligned with the Constitution’s preamble, which affirms rights, equality, democracy, and the rule of law.
He described Raila as a leader who always stood with the oppressed, spoke truth to power, and prioritized the country over self-interest. On his birthday, Sifuna emphasized the need to honor Baba’s legacy by continuing the path he charted for Kenya.
“His birthday warms our hearts immensely and makes us proud to have known him and learned at his feet,” Sifuna concluded.