Sifuna to Gen-Z: Not everyone is leaderless

By Peter Ochieng 

Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna has defended Azimio leader Raila Odinga, after the former Prime Minister faced online backlash from youth, popularly known as millennials and Gen-Z.

On Tuesday, Odinga announced that after weeks of countrywide protests spearheaded by the youth against the anti-Finance Bill 2024, time was ripe to embrace dialogue as the nation moves forward.

"We agreed that we give people an opportunity to be heard, to express themselves, to come out with the grievances which are actually ailing our country today so that a lasting solution can be found,” Odinga said, after witnessing President Ruto sign the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) Amendment Bill 2024, into law.

His statement attracted a barrage of attacks online, with some millennials and Gen-Zs calling him a traitor, adding that he does not speak on their behalf. They said they are leaderless and party-less, insisting that Odinga is not the person to represent them in talks with President William Ruto’s administration.

Defending his party leader, Senator Sifuna who doubles up as ODM party secretary general speaking to Standard Group's KTN and Spice FM stables Wednesday said as much as Gen-Zs and millennials say they are party-less, not everyone is leaderless.

The legislature said Odinga has his supporters, and those are the people he will be representing in the talks with the Kenya Kwanza administration.

"Raila is not going to represent Gen Z. Gen Z have said they are leaderless and Raila is not their leader. But there are people Baba (Raila) leads. Not everyone is leaderless and party less. I have a party and I am the Secretary General of that party (ODM)," said Sifuna.

"We can't sit as leaders and keep quiet as things happen in the country. Gen Z did their Space (X Spaces) with the president, did you see Sifuna or Raila there? No. So Raila is a leader to some people and those are the people he is going to represent, not everyone is leaderless," he added.

Ruto, Odinga and their allies settled on a six-day multi-sectoral forum which is set to begin on Monday, July 15, and end on Saturday to foster national dialogue and seek lasting solutions to Kenya's pressing issues.