@ProfOjiendaTom/X
Kisumu Senator Tom Ojienda has criticized his Nairobi counterpart Edwin Sifuna and Siaya Governor James Orengo over their conduct during the funeral ceremony of Raila Odinga’s bodyguard, George Oduor.
Speaking during a TV interview on Thursday, April 17, 2025, Ojienda mentioned that Orange and Sifuna went overboard with their remarks.
He defended Ruto, noting that no one should be speaking to the president as they did, highlighting that they were now in government.
“It was inappropriate for James Orengo and Sifuna to speak the way they did at the funeral of Oduor. You do not speak to the President like that when he visits and is attending a funeral.
“My understanding is that we are in government, and we are here to stay; in 2027 we will win elections and continue to serve the people,” he said.
Ojienda also reminisced how Sifuna and other Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) members chastised him for meeting Ruto at State House in 2023.
He explained that his purpose for meeting the president was to advocate for development in his county and better the lives of the people.
“When we first visited State House as a team of seven members of parliament, we were called names; we were taken to the tribunal dragdown and eventually we were cleared.
“On October 6, 2023 President Ruto visited Kanyabwonyo Kanyabwal Secondary, to launch projects that he had promised; he had promised the Muhoroni Junction Road to Kisumu, Mamboleo Road, those are the projects that I put in my hand to,” he added.
Sifuna, Orengo blast Ruto
Orengo and Sifuna had called out the president over how the government handled Butere Girls students after their play saga.
The two who directly addressed the president at the funeral expressed discontent stating that the Kenya Kwanza government had exposed its own insecurities by attempting to silence the students.
“The country has watched with disbelief the unfolding drama in Nakuru, where the government has seemingly been intimidated by a student play.
“This regime has exposed its own insecurities by attempting to stifle the voices of young, uniformed girls expressing themselves artistically,” Sifuna said at the time.