Lawyer Paul Mwangi Revelation: Sifuna was Raila's exit strategy in Ruto deal

Lawyer Paul Mwangi, a longtime legal advisor to the late Raila Odinga, made these remarks during a radio interview on March 28, 2026, stating Sifuna's crucial role in Raila's power deal with Ruto. 

He claimed that when Raila entered the cooperation (or "handshake"-style partnership) with President William Ruto—centered on a 10-point agenda MOU—he deliberately maintained an internal "exit strategy" within ODM.

According to Mwangi:

1. Raila never entered alliances without a planned way out.

The "Sifuna side" (the faction led by Nairobi Senator and ODM Secretary General Edwin Sifuna, which was vocal against or critical of the full alignment with Ruto) served as that exit plan. These were the people "fighting" the cooperation from inside the party.

2. If the deal with Ruto soured or didn't deliver, Raila could pivot or distance himself by leveraging the opposition faction within his own party.

3. Mwangi framed this as classic Raila-style politics: strategic, calculated, and always with contingencies. 

He suggested Sifuna is essentially continuing or embodying what Raila would have done if alive—maintaining pressure or an alternative path amid the broad-based government arrangement.

Context in ODM and the Ruto-Raila Deal

This comes amid ongoing ODM internal tensions after Raila's death. There have been parallel or disputed party meetings, questions over the National Delegates Conference (NDC) and debates about ODM's role in the current broad-based government. 

Sifuna has been a key figure pushing back and questioning aspects of the alignment, while others (like some in the "Linda Mwananchi" or pro-cooperation side) appear more supportive.

Mwangi also commented on succession, stating that neither Raila's brother Oburu Odinga nor Sifuna is capable of leading ODM the way Raila did, underscoring the unique stature of the late leader. 

Separately, he indicated Raila showed no signs of planning to run for president in 2027 and had leaned toward backing Ruto.

Political Interpretation

1. Pro-Raila/Sifuna view: This portrays Sifuna's militancy or criticism not as disloyalty, but as part of a smart hedge that Raila himself engineered—keeping options open rather than fully committing without safeguards.

2  Critics or Ruto-aligned voices: It could be spun as evidence of duplicity in the original deal, or that the "opposition within ODM" was always performative.

3. Neutral take: Kenyan politics often involves layered alliances with built-in escape routes (handshakes, MOUs, coalitions). Maintaining an internal critic or faction allows a leader to manage party bases, signal to supporters and retain leverage.

These are Mwangi's claims as a close associate reflecting on Raila's style—he presents them as insight into how Raila operated, not necessarily as criticism of Sifuna. 

In Kenya, politics moves fast and interpretations vary by camp. Sifuna and others may respond, or this could fuel more ODM infighting as the party navigates life after Raila.