‘How can Ruto hang out with a class two dropout like Sudi?’ – Edwin Sifuna
Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna has launched a scathing attack on President William Ruto, questioning how a self-proclaimed intellectual leader like himself could associate closely with individuals he described as lacking academic credentials.
Speaking during an interview with a local TV station on Thursday, February 20, 2025, Sifuna ridiculed Ruto’s frequent emphasis on his PhD, saying it was not worth anything given he continues surrounding himself with individuals like Kapseret MP Oscar Sudi, a class two dropout.
“How can Ruto, a man who insists that he has a PhD and that nobody should lecture him on anything, be hanging out with a class two dropout?” the senator asked. “What happens in such an arrangement is that you automatically lower the average intelligence in the room to at least Class 8,” he added.
Sifuna stated that leadership is not just about academic qualifications but also about the ability to make sound decisions and work with competent individuals.
He argued that Ruto’s close ties with Sudi painted a picture of a president who does not take governance seriously.
“They say birds of a feather flock together. So how does a PhD holder constantly associate with people who are clearly not of the same intellectual calibre? That cannot be true,” the senator stated.
The Nairobi lawmaker further insisted that Kenyans did not need academic titles to understand the state of their country, adding that ordinary citizens were well aware of the struggles they faced under Ruto’s leadership.
“We might not have PhDs, but we know how we feel about our country and where it needs to go,” Sifuna said. “And we will speak the truth no matter what. Nobody will scare us, and nobody will threaten us,” he added.
The senator claimed that Ruto and his allies were aware of the growing dissatisfaction among Kenyans, which is why they had resorted to insults instead of addressing the real issues.
“That is why he and his allies are speaking the way they do. That is why he is insulting the public at every turn. Instead of listening, he tells Kenyans off and tries to intimidate those who speak out,” Sifuna stated.
Dismissing any attempts to silence him, the senator declared that he would continue holding the government accountable, emphasizing that he represented the frustrations of millions of Kenyans.
“I do not represent myself. I represent over 2.5 million people in Nairobi,” he said. “There is nothing I have today that you can take away from me that will result in my death—unless you cut off my head. I will speak the truth as I see it, and I will say what I must say because that is what the people demand of me,” he added.
ODM not in govt
The ODM Secretary General during the interview also reaffirmed that the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) does not support President William Ruto’s administration.
He was responding to a sharp remark from Thirdway Alliance leader Ekuru Aukot, who had been interviewed alongside him.
Aukot had claimed it was only a matter of time before they started licking William Ruto’s feet, begging to be included in his government
This is when he clapped back, dismissing the claims and saying that it was false that ODM is trying to balance its position in both government and opposition.
He insisted that the party remains firmly behind its leader, Raila Odinga.
“ODM’s position has been very clear. I want to take the words of acting party leader Anyang’ Nyong’o that this question is now becoming ridiculous. How many times do we have to answer this question?” Sifuna posed.
