Why Sifuna's ODM Faction Was Raila's Exit Strategy in Ruto's Friendship - Raila's Lawyer

Raila Odinga’s lawyer, Paul Mwangi

Raila Odinga’s lawyer, Paul Mwangi, now says the late former Prime Minister had a backup plan to use against President Ruto in 2027.

Speaking in an interview on March 29th, Mwangi revealed that in case of a fallout, Raila was going to use his soldiers.

According to him, Sifuna’s led Linda Mwananchi would have been his exit strategy when corporate negotiations with President Ruto fell apart.

“Even when he began working with President Ruto, he had an exit strategy. That strategy, in this context, appears to have involved those opposing the cooperation, which some refer to as the Edwin Sifuna side.

“If things did not work out, or if tensions escalated with the cooperation faction, he could pivot back to the militant wing and mobilise them as an alternative path,” Paul Mwangi revealed.

He added that both sides of Sifuna and Oburu were right in their context, as he downplayed the sides as actions Raila would make in any extreme situation.

“What we are witnessing today is essentially a contest between two factions aligned with Raila Odinga: a political-diplomatic faction and a militant faction.

“The question that now arises about legitimacy, who truly represents Raila?—is complex. In reality, all sides claim some legitimacy because Raila was a complex political figure, and each faction reflects a different aspect of his approach.

“Another important point is that the militant side also played a role. One of the recurring features of Raila’s politics is that he rarely entered any political arrangement without an exit strategy.”

The Lawyer had earlier revealed that the late former Prime Minister never wanted to compete against President Ruto in 2027.

“After the last election, he behaved in a way that suggested he would not run again. In very many ways, there are things you could expect him to do at a particular time, and he’s not doing them,” Mwangi noted.

According to Mwangi, the absence of Raila’s typical political mobilisation and strategic positioning after the election was a clear indication that he was not preparing for another presidential bid.

Raila Odinga joined Ruto’s government after the Gen Z protest on June 24th, 2024, for the sake of national stability.