ODM Leadership Turmoil: Sifuna's Ouster Rocks Party, Promising Fiery Revelations
ODM's National Executive Committee has ousted Secretary-General Edwin Sifuna for his opposition to talks with President Ruto, appointing Catherine Omanyo as acting SG. The party also mandated Oburu Odinga to negotiate with Ruto's UDA for 2027 elections and began withdrawing from the Azimio la Umoja coalition, signaling a major strategic shift.
The Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) party's National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting at Pride Inn Hotel Mombasa yesterday saw significant leadership changes and strategic decisions, most notably the removal of Secretary-General Edwin Sifuna. Chaired by party leader and Siaya Senator Oburu Odinga, the NEC resolved to relieve Sifuna of his position following his outspoken opposition to a faction of the party leadership engaging in talks with President William Ruto and endorsing his 2027 re-election bid.
Sifuna had been a bold and unapologetic voice within the party, consistently questioning the opaque nature of the discussions with President Ruto's UDA party. He firmly declared that ODM would field its own presidential candidate in 2027 and maintained that no official deal had been struck with Ruto’s party regarding his re-election. Following his ouster, Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna announced he would address the media on Thursday, February 12, expressing gratitude for the overwhelming messages of support and encouragement he received.
Catherine Omanyo, the Busia Woman Representative and Sifuna's deputy, has been appointed to hold the Secretary-General post in an acting capacity. Sifuna retains the option to challenge his removal either at the ODM party Disciplinary Committee or the Political Parties Disputes Tribunal (PPDT). The NEC cited concerns within the party regarding "the level of indiscipline, particularly among senior leadership," signaling this as a primary reason for Sifuna's removal. The committee underscored ODM's governance by its constitution, the rule of law, and collective decision-making through its duly constituted organs.
Beyond the leadership change, the Mombasa NEC meeting also charted a new strategic direction for the ODM party. Party leader Oburu Odinga was formally mandated to oversee negotiations with President William Ruto’s United Democratic Alliance (UDA) as they seek to ink a deal for the 2027 elections. Furthermore, the party announced that it had commenced the process of withdrawing from the Azimio la Umoja coalition, marking a significant shift in its political alliances.
The NEC meeting, which was also attended by key figures such as ODM chairperson Gladys Wanga, deputy chairmen Abdulswamad Nassir and Simba Arati, and Junet Mohamed, concluded with the announcement that the party will hold a National Delegates Convention on March 27, 2026. This convention is intended to deliberate on the party’s strategic direction and make crucial decisions for its future, reflecting the profound internal realignments currently underway within the Orange Democratic Movement.