By Kepher Otieno - Reporter
Kenya, 31 December 2025 - Former President Uhuru Kenyatta on Tuesday used the solemn occasion of the burial of former Lugari MP Cyrus Jirongo in Western Kenya to send a pointed political message to his critics, underscoring his continued relevance in national politics and his refusal to retreat from public debate.
Speaking before a gathering of political leaders and mourners, Uhuru struck a defiant tone, saying he was unafraid of criticism and would continue to speak his mind.
His remarks came amid growing unease within sections of the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) over his recent political engagement, particularly his perceived role in efforts to reorganize and strengthen the party from outside formal leadership structures.
“I fear nothing,” Uhuru said, in comments widely interpreted as a response to critics who have accused him of meddling in ODM affairs and undermining the party’s current leadership direction.
The former president’s remarks quickly drew reactions from ODM officials present, most notably Secretary-General Edwin Sifuna, who used the platform to defend Uhuru and apologise to the former President over what he described as false claims and mischaracterisations directed at him by some ODM leaders.
Sifuna insisted that Uhuru’s involvement in ODM was rooted in goodwill rather than political mischief.
“Uhuru Kenyatta has always meant well for ODM. He has stood with us, and he deserves respect, not blanket condemnation,” Sifuna said.
He recalled Uhuru’s role during the 2022 general election, when the former president openly backed ODM leader Raila Odinga’s presidential bid.
“You gave all your input and machinery to campaign for Raila for president. Although it didn’t materialise, those efforts cannot go unnoticed,” Sifuna added, criticising party figures who have recently accused Uhuru of pursuing hidden agendas.
The burial ceremony thus became a microcosm of the broader tensions currently playing out within ODM, particularly over the party’s uneasy relationship with the Kenya Kwanza government and the formation of the broad-based government (BBG).
Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi and Kanu party leader Gideon Moi and a host of UDA, ODM, Ford Kenya, and Jubilee leaders and supporters were present among thousands of mourners in attendance.
The leaders prayed for peace and issue based politics as opposed to empty rhetoric.
A faction of ODM leaders opposed to the BBG has found itself increasingly isolated, with some party insiders accusing them of working with external political actors to destabilise the party.
More from Kenya
Suna East MP Junet Mohammed, one of the party’s vocal defenders of the BBG arrangement, has previously alleged that ODM members opposed to the government partnership were operating a parallel power structure, allegedly financed by political opponents to weaken the party leadership’s position. These claims have fueled internal suspicion and hardened factional lines.
However, Sifuna dismissed such assertions, arguing that ODM stood to gain from Uhuru’s experience and political capital.
He rejected claims that Uhuru was acting with malice, saying the former president was motivated by a desire to see ODM thrive, partly in honour of his long-standing alliance with Raila Odinga.
Sifuna further noted that Uhuru’s historical relationship with Raila, whom he described as a close ally, should shield him from accusations of betrayal.
References to Raila as a unifying symbol within the party appeared aimed at reminding ODM members of the broader political journey that has bound different factions together over the years.
The debate also drew in Vihiga Senator Geoffrey Osotsi, who took a firm stand against what he described as intimidation within the party.
Osotsi said he and Sifuna had been branded “traitors” for their views but insisted that such labels would not silence them.
“We are in ODM to stay,” Osotsi said, adding that no amount of political rhetoric or pressure would deter leaders who believed they were acting in the party’s best interests.
Taken together, the events at Jirongo’s burial highlighted the deepening ideological and strategic rifts within ODM.
Uhuru’s presence — and his unapologetic posture — has complicated an already delicate balancing act for the party as it navigates cooperation with the government while trying to maintain internal cohesion and ideological clarity.
As ODM grapples with its future direction, the episode suggests that Uhuru Kenyatta, though out of office, remains a consequential figure whose interventions continue to shape Kenya’s evolving political landscape.
