Sifuna vs ODM: Tribunal Fight Looms After Secretary-General Removal
ODM has kicked off 2026 with a political earthquake. The party has officially removed Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna as Secretary-General, ending one of the most visible tenures in recent party history.
The decision was sealed on February 11, 2026, during a high-stakes National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting in Mombasa, and it has already split the party right down the middle.
ODM’s Official Reason: “Indiscipline”
In its statement, the NEC, now led by Dr. Oburu Oginga, accused Sifuna of:
- Rising indiscipline
- Disobedience to party rules
But inside ODM, the real fight appears bigger than discipline.
Sifuna has repeatedly questioned ODM’s closeness to the broad-based government, and he has refused to fall in line with the new leadership. To his supporters, the purge is not about rules—it is about silencing dissent.
Winnie Odinga Breaks Ranks: “It is not well”
The ouster triggered instant pushback from influential figures inside ODM.
Winnie Odinga, who has publicly praised Sifuna’s performance in the past, posted a short but explosive reaction: “It is not well.”
That single line has been widely read as a signal that the Odinga political family is not fully united behind the purge.
Sources within ODM claim a “rebel wing” of younger leaders still views Sifuna as a key pillar of the party’s future.
Sifuna Hits Back With “Linda Mwananchi Tour”
Sifuna did not wait long to respond.
Just hours after the decision, he announced the launch of a grassroots mobilisation drive dubbed the “Linda Mwananchi Tour.” The tour is expected to begin in Kitengela on February 15, 2026.
The campaign is reportedly set to feature other heavyweight voices seen as critical of the party’s new direction, including:
- Siaya Senator James Orengo
- Embakasi East MP Babu Owino
If the plan holds, ODM could soon have a powerful “people’s wing” operating outside NEC control.
ODM’s Big Reset After Raila Odinga’s Death
The purge comes as ODM attempts a major rebrand following the death of Raila Odinga in late 2025.
At the same Mombasa meeting, ODM also made two major political moves:
1) New Acting Secretary-General
ODM appointed Busia Woman Representative Catherine Omanyo as the acting Secretary-General, taking over from Sifuna.
2) Exit From Azimio
ODM resolved to formally withdraw from Azimio la Umoja One Kenya Coalition, citing repeated breaches by partner parties and a desire to regain independence.
The Next Battlefield: March 27 NDC
ODM has scheduled a National Delegates Convention (NDC) for March 27, 2026, where the party hopes to cement its new leadership structure and direction.
However, critics warn the party is playing with fire. Some insiders fear that purging popular figures like Sifuna could trigger mass defections, or worse, a permanent internal split.
What Next for Sifuna?
Even after losing his party post, Sifuna remains:
- Nairobi Senator
- A top youth political mobiliser
- One of ODM’s loudest national voices
Legal analysts say he may challenge the decision at the Political Parties Tribunal, especially if the removal is deemed procedurally weak.
Meanwhile, his supporters have already started rebranding him as “the People’s Secretary-General” a title ODM may find hard to erase.
