Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna faces a pivotal moment in his political journey after being relieved of his duties as Secretary General of the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) by the party’s National Executive Committee (NEC).
Veteran editor Mutuma Mathiu has weighed in, sending what he describes as both a warning and an encouragement to the senator amid the turbulence.
In a statement shared on social media, Mathiu described Sifuna’s ouster as a “fist in the face from the brutality of power politics,” urging the senator not to dwell on the loss but to seize the moment as an opportunity to consolidate influence and visibility.
“Office does not a man make. His firing makes him the most dangerous and powerful young politician in Kenya today—but only if he does not tarry and waste too much time mourning what was,” Mathiu wrote.
Mathiu called on Sifuna to harness public sympathy and attention following the removal, framing it as a launchpad for a new political trajectory.
He urged the senator to embrace bold, unconventional strategies, including building alliances with younger radicals in Kenyan politics, such as Babu Owino, and leveraging the experience of seasoned ODM leaders like Jimmy Orengo.
The veteran editor also encouraged Sifuna to explore alternatives outside the mainstream party structures, suggesting the creation of a movement reflective of the “radical, progressive instincts of Gen Z.”
Mathiu emphasized that Sifuna should avoid the broader, formalized opposition networks for now, warning that they are often bogged down in bureaucratic procedures and symbolic gestures.
“Hit the road, galvanize the people, launch and build the movement that will be the natural home for the radical instincts of the youth,” he said.
Mathiu’s message underscores a larger debate about the role of young politicians in Kenya’s political landscape.
Concluding his advice, Mathiu framed the ouster as a paradoxical opportunity, likening it to a “heaven” only attainable through resilience and bold action.
He encouraged Sifuna to redefine his political path, assert his visibility, and challenge the entrenched establishment, signaling that his political journey may be entering a transformative new chapter.