Vocal Nairobi Senator and ODM Secretary-General Edwin Sifuna has waded into the escalating war of words between President William Ruto and Wiper Party leader Kalonzo Musyoka over their respective leadership and development records.
Speaking in defence of Kalonzo, Sifuna reminded the President that effective leadership should prioritise the welfare of ordinary citizens over personal interests. He took issue with Ruto’s remarks suggesting that Kalonzo, despite being in public office for nearly five decades, had failed to develop even a single road leading to his Tseikuru home in Kitui County.
Sifuna argued that there was nothing wrong with such a record, insisting that Kalonzo is not a self-centred leader who channels public resources for personal benefit. According to the Nairobi senator, true leadership is demonstrated by serving the wider public interest rather than focusing on individual gain.
He further criticised President Ruto’s frequent references to transforming Kenya into a “Singapore-like” nation, saying such ambitions ring hollow when the leadership appears preoccupied with solving personal and political challenges as citizens continue to struggle.
“Yule anaetwambia maneno ya Singapore ndie yule mmoja anatukumbusha ati kuna viongozi ambao hawajajenga barabara ya kuingia kwao. Kiongozi mzuri ni yule anajali maslahi ya Wakenya kwanza, sio ya kwake,” Sifuna said.
While acknowledging the popular saying that “charity begins at home,” Sifuna maintained that public funds should not be treated as tools for personal charity or self-enrichment.
Amid the ongoing exchange, the government has since advertised a tender to upgrade the Kyuso–Tseikuru Road which is at the centre of the debate – the route leading to former Vice President Kalonzo Musyoka’s Tseikuru area – adding a new twist to the politically charged discussion.