Sifuna: We shall withdraw our support if signed MoU isn't respected

Orange Democratic Movement Secretary General Edwin Sifuna has said if the Memorandum of Understanding between ODM and United Democratic Alliance is not respected they will withdraw from the agreement.

Sifuna said that as the SG, he will oversight the government in ensuring that the MoU is followed as agreed.

Speaking on Saturday, Sifuna said that the ten-point agenda serves as a guiding point for the agreement.

“After we have signed the MoU, I will sit with the marking scheme. There are 10 agendas in that agreement. If another Kenyan is abducted, UDA will have gone against the agreement,” he said.

According to Sifuna, the government should follow the agreement with the latter.

On March 7, President William Ruto and former Prime Minister Raila Odinga signed a political pact. 

The MoU is aimed at addressing Kenya's social, economic, and political challenges in 2025, the two leaders emphasised that the right to protest is a constitutional right that all Kenyans must be able to enjoy without hindrance.

As part of the agreement, the leaders also pledged to compensate victims of past protests.

The MoU listed inclusivity in all spheres of public life as the second agenda they will be exploring.

Ruto and Raila acknowledged that while the Constitution of Kenya is clear on the rights of minorities and marginalised people in the country, not enough has been done almost 15 years later to uphold these rights by fully implementing the provisions of the Constitution.

“Kenya belongs to all persons regardless of their ethnicity, religion, generation, or geographic location. All Kenyans are equal, and all are entitled to an equitable budgetary resource allocation and opportunities in public appointments,” the MoU states.

In addition, the two leaders agreed to protect and strengthen devolution.

The MoU said Raila and Ruto will work towards ensuring devolution continues to be protected from any possibility of clawback on devolved functions.

The two will ensure the devolving of all funds allocated to a devolved function, increasing budgetary allocation to counties and ensuring the timely and predictable disbursement of devolved funds.

Fourthly, the MoU listed promoting and protecting the livelihoods of young people.

“Young people must also be mainstreamed in all political spaces to bring their voices to the table and their participation to the centre of all activities,” the MoU stated.

Under leadership and integrity, the two leaders acknowledged that Kenyans are concerned by the expression of opulence accompanied by rude and arrogant conduct by public officers and the apparent impunity that has followed the same.

They agreed that the demeanour of public servants needs to reflect the dignity of the office and the respect owed by them to the citizens of Kenya.

“We must also urgently provide a legal and institutional framework for addressing conflict of interest among public servants,” the MoU read.

Raila and Ruto agreed that urgent and massive investment must be made in all high potential sectors of the economy, including mining, blue economy, agriculture and ICT.

They agreed to create sufficient employment opportunities that provide ways for young people to earn a decent living; nationwide economic stimulus programs must be initiated.