Edwin Sifuna, the Secretary General of the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM), has revealed he contemplated resigning from his position after facing severe criticism from within the party for opposing a potential alliance with President William Ruto’s government.

Sifuna made the disclosure while paying tribute to gender icon Phoebe Asiyo, drawing a parallel between his situation and Asiyo’s past threat to resign over a matter of principle.

“I am so happy to hear that Mama Asiyo threatened to resign, because things were not going the way she thought they should go,” Sifuna said.

“When things are taking a turn for the worst, you have a responsibility to put your foot down and say this is not who we are.”

The Nairobi Senator has been an outspoken critic of any deal with the United Democratic Alliance (UDA), arguing that such an alliance would compromise the ODM’s core values and standing as a people-centred movement.

His stance has put him on a collision course with some party stalwarts, including George Aladwa, Peter Kaluma, and Robert Alai, who have publicly called for his resignation, accusing him of causing confusion within the party.

Homa Bay Senator Moses Kajwang, who emceed the event, jokingly said he had to rush to Sifuna’s side to prevent him from “throwing in the towel.” Kajwang humorously described his colleague as a “rugby ball” because his political trajectory is unpredictable.

Sifuna had previously stated over the weekend that he would not hesitate to step down if the ODM leadership formally agrees to back the UDA in the 2027 General Election.

“The day they say ODM has agreed to join hands and support UDA… that I will not read,” he declared, signalling his firm commitment to his principles and his party’s original mandate.