The Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) NEC on February 11, resolved to remove Edwin Sifuna as the party’s Secretary General.
The party stated that Deputy Secretary General Catherine Omanyo will serve as acting Secretary General until a permanent officeholder is elected.
“Party National Executive Committee meeting in Mombasa today has resolved to relieve SG Edwin Sifuna of his responsibilities with immediate effect. Effectively, Hon. Catherine Omanyo who is one of the Deputy Secretary General, will act in this position until a substantive holder of the office will be elected,” read part of the statement.
ODM stated that the decision followed deliberations on Sifuna’s conduct and was made in accordance with the party constitution and relevant laws.
The NEC also reaffirmed ODM’s commitment to democratic governance, constitutionalism, social justice, and the pursuit of a broad-based, inclusive, and reform-oriented government that reflects the will and aspirations of the Kenyan people.
Additionally, the ODM’s central decision-making body removed Saboti MP Caleb Amisi, Kipkorir Menjo, and Taita Taveta Senator Johnes Mwaruma from NEC.
The removal comes against the background of an ideological rift within the ODM party.
Edwin Sifuna Leadership Woes in ODM
ODM party leader Oburu Oginga criticized Sifuna after his remarks in a recent Citizen TV interview that exposed internal disagreements within the party.
In a statement on Friday, February 6, Oburu accused Sifuna of making comments that risk misleading supporters and distorting public perception of the party’s leadership and structures.
Sifuna had questioned the legitimacy of certain national officials and party organs. The ODM SG also raised concerns over the party’s financial position, revealing that it is owed billions by the National Treasury.
Oburu maintained that the Senator rose to office through the same party processes he now appears to challenge.
He noted that Sifuna assumed the Secretary General position without prior approval by the National Delegates Convention (NDC) and did not raise objections about procedure at the time.
“When Senator Sifuna questioned the legality of some national officials on the basis that they were elected by the National Governing Council, he overlooked a fundamental fact: he himself was elected Secretary General by the same organ in February 2018 and discharged the functions of that office fully and effectively until February 2022, when the National Delegates Convention subsequently endorsed him. One cannot selectively invalidate the very processes that conferred legitimacy upon oneself,” said Oburu.
During the interview, Sifuna had questioned the legality of Oburu’s installation as interim party leader, arguing that the ODM constitution required one of the deputy leaders to take over temporarily before convening the NDC.
In response, Oburu defended the party’s adherence to its constitution and internal resolutions, stating that all current officials are serving legitimately under decisions made by the appropriate party organs.
Additionally, he faulted Sifuna for what he described as inconsistent positions regarding possible coalition talks between ODM and President William Ruto’s United Democratic Alliance (UDA).
Also Read: ODM Gets Messy and Noisy as Sifuna, Junet Lock Horns
Sifuna on ODM Funding
Sifuna alleged that recent rallies held under the party, are not being financed through official ODM channels.
Speaking on Citizen TV’s The Explainer on February 3, the Nairobi Senator stated that the high-profile “Linda Ground” rallies are not funded from the party headquarters.
He distanced the party’s official structures from the organization and funding of the rallies.
According to him, the last officially sanctioned party expenditure was during the ODM 20th anniversary celebrations in Mombasa last year, and the amount used then was significantly lower than what has been observed at recent rallies.
Also Read: ODM Sends Message to New IEBC Team and Gachagua
Sifuna also raised concerns about the party’s financial standing, revealing that ODM is owed billions of shillings by the National Treasury in outstanding political party funding.
His remarks came amid broader political realignments following the National Dialogue Committee (NADCO) talks between the late ODM leader Raila Odinga and President William Ruto’s United Democratic Alliance (UDA).
Sifuna noted that one of the key proposals arising from the NADCO process was the establishment of an independent political parties regulatory commission to oversee party regulation and funding.
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