Nairobi Senator and Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) Secretary-General Edwin Sifuna has taken a swipe at Mining, Blue Economy and Maritime Affairs Cabinet Secretary Hassan Joho for threatening to deal with government’s online critics.
Speaking on Wednesday, December 4, 2024, during an interview with a local radio station, Sifuna stated that he was really shocked to hear Joho talking tough against the Kenyan citizens.
Sifuna further faulted Joho for continuing to behave as a politician when he should be acting like a cabinet secretary, and urged leaders to always address Kenyans with respect.
“Nimepigwa na butwaa sana juzi nikimsikiza waziri Mheshimiwa Joho. Mheshimiwa Joho anapozungumza amesahau kuwa yeye ni waziri. Yeye sio mwanasiasa ambaye anaeza zungumza mambo ambayo alikuwa akiyazungumza. Haezi kutisha Wakenya. Kwanza kama kuna kitu nilidhani yakwamba viongozi tumejifunza mwaka huu ni kwamba lazima tuzungumze kwa heshima kwa wananchi,” Sifuna said.
According to Sifuna, some of the ODM Members that were appointed by President Ruto to join government as CSs have since forgotten that they are no longer politicians, and occasionally find themselves talking politics whenever they are given a microphone.
Sifuna defends ODM
While defending ODM, Sifuna stated that the four Cabinet Secretaries from the party cannot speak on behalf of the Orange party for now, since they are part of the Kenya Kwanza administration for now.
He maintained that the ODM party has no any agreement with the ruling United Democratic Alliance (UDA) and the Kenya Kwanza adminstration.
“Ukweli ni kwamba chama cha ODM hakina mkataba wowote na chama cha UDA. Hatuko ndani ya Kenya Kwanza, hatuko ndani ya serikali. Tunaposema haya maneno wanasema oooh, lakini huyu jamaa amesema hii, huyu amaseme ile. Nimewaambia na ninataka nirudie tena, msimamo wa chama unatolewa na katibu mkuu wa chama na unatolewa baada ya mikutano ya asisi za chama,” Sifuna remarked.
“Kuna vitu ambazo zimefanyika ambazo zinapelekea watu kuuliza haya maswali na sisi kama viongozi wa chama sio ati hatusikii tetesi zinazotolewa. Kwa mfano wale ambao walikuwa viongozi wa chama walipochukuliwa wakawa mawaziri katika serikali ya Kenya Kwanza, watu wakasema wako pale kwa sababu ya mkataba na ODM. Nataka nirudie tena, hawa ni mawaziri wa Kenya Kwanza. Aliyewachagua ni rais William Ruto, hawako pale kutekeleza sera za ODM. Ukisikiza ata matamshi yao wamesahau hata sera za ODM, Hawa ni mawaziri wa Kenya Kwanza kwa sasa.”
Joho criticised
Joho has been facing criticism from Kenyans after he threatened to go after online critics.
Joho while speaking during a public rally in Taita Taveta on Monday, December 2, 2024, slammed social media users who spend their time criticising President Ruto’s administration.
“And I want to tell the young people of this country. Nchi haiwezi pelekwa namna hiyo. Wewe unakaa kwa mtandao, unakosa uzalendo, you become so unpatriotic. Mimi hapa ni expert kwa kupitia kwa maneno ya Junet, wa kutoka ODM, mimi nikae kwa mtandao hivi alafu nione mkenya mmoja hajui mbele wala nyuma, hajui cha asubuhi wala usiku, ati anasema Raila Odinga must fall….We will come for you my friend. Tuko na mdomo kubwa kama wewe, ukileta tunaleta, ukichoma tunachoma,” Joho said.
