Sifuna Alleges Why Ruto Is Confidently Telling Them to Use “Formal Channels” to Get Documents

Former ODM Secretary General Edwin Sifuna has accused President William Ruto of relying on his influence in Parliament to frustrate efforts to obtain government documents concerning the Lamu Refinery.

Sifuna argued that Ruto can confidently ask Kenyans to use “formal channels” when seeking documents held by the state because, according to him, those channels can prevent sensitive requests from reaching the parliamentary floor.

He claimed that a request for documents relating to the Lamu Refinery had suffered the same fate after failing to progress through Parliament.

“The reason Ruto speaks confidently in rallies telling us to use ‘formal channels’ to get documents held by the state is he knows his gatekeepers in Parliament will never approve this business to make it to the floor,” Sifuna said.

The former ODM official said the situation raises questions about transparency and the effectiveness of parliamentary oversight in matters involving major government projects.

The Lamu Refinery has attracted attention because of its potential economic significance, particularly for the Coast region. Questions surrounding government agreements and plans linked to major investments have also generated political debate.

Sifuna maintained that Kenyans should have access to information concerning projects funded or facilitated by the state, arguing that established procedures should not be used to prevent scrutiny.

He also connected the issue to the 2027 General Election, saying fundamental changes would be necessary to address what he described as an entrenched system within government institutions.

“We must uproot this entire system in 2027 to rescue our country,” he said.

His comments come as opposition leaders continue to challenge the government over transparency, accountability and access to public information.

Sifuna’s remarks were highlighted in a Facebook post carrying his comments on the Lamu Refinery documents and the role of Parliament in the matter.

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