How Sifuna’s fate was sealed as Oburu takes war to Uhuru, Kalonzo’s doorstep

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Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna’s fate was sealed on Wednesday after majority of ODM’s NEC voted to remove him as secretary general in a dramatic meeting.

The meeting also signalled a fresh political onslaught against retired President Uhuru Kenyatta and Kalonzo Musyoka.

After day-long deliberations, a record 25 National Executive Committee

(NEC) members voted in favour of his removal, with only four opposing the motion.

The committee appointed Busia Woman Representative Catherine Omanyo to act until substantive holder is elected.

“Having deliberated on matters relating to the conduct of the secretary general Sen. Edwin Sifuna, the NEC resolved to remove him from office with immediate effect in accordance with the party constitution and applicable laws,” Omanyo who read the resolutions said.

“The Deputy secretary general Hon Catherine Omanyo will act in this position until substantive holder of the position is elected.”

The committee also announced it will hold the National Delegates Convention (NDC) in Nairobi on March 27, 2026.

The Star has established that ODM Vice chairman Otiende Amolo, Party Treasurer Timothy Bosire, Kisumu Woman Representative Ruth Odinga and another member only identified as Mike voted to save Sifuna.

Sources who attended the Mombasa meeting chaired by party leader Oburu Oginga told the Star that the mood of the house was for the removal despite spirited attempts by the four to convince them otherwise.

“The four really put a fight, after long deliberations we went to vote where 25 members voted to remove him, only the four voted against the removal but they were overrun,” the source told the Star in confidence.

Those who dissented urged the party to embrace the ‘gather all, scatter none’ mantra and argued that Sifuna deserved a right of reply before any drastic decision was taken.

“They tried to convince the members to give him right of reply but no one wanted to hear that. Ruth was also shouted down trying to preach the ‘gather all, scatter none’,” the source noted.

Sources who attended the closed-door session said Sifuna had sent his apologies through executive director Oduor Ongwen.

In the last one week, there had been systematic indication that the party was out to deal with the rebels as it starts its formal talks with President Uhuru Kenyatta’s UDA.

Saboti MP Caleb Amisi, Eldoret-based farmer Kipkorir Menjo and Taita Taveta Senator Johnes Mwaruma were removed from ODM NEC.

Though the party explained the three were removed from the decision-making organ of ODM after they were elected as chairmen of their respective branches, there were speculations of mischief.

In a further twist, ODM announced it was exiting the Azimio coalition something that is widely seen as taking the battle directly to the doorstep of former President Uhuru and Wiper leader Kalonzo, whose allies currently hold key positions in Parliament under the Azimio arrangement.

Some of the Wiper lawmakers holding parliamentary positions include Robert Mbui (Kathiani) who is the deputy minority leader and Senate deputy Minority leader Enoch Wambua (Kitui).

“The NEC reviewed recent developments within the Azimio la Umoja One Kenya coalition. It noted with concern that certain erstwhile coalition partners have acted in violation of the Deed of Agreement that established the coalition,” Omanyo said.

“In light of these sustained breaches and in order to safeguard the integrity, autonomy and strategic direction of ODM, the NEC resolved to initiate the formal process of withdrawal from the Azimio la Umoja One Kenya coalition in accordance with the applicable legal and constitutional provisions.”

Addressing ODM Mombasa delegates after the meeting, Oburu said the party will not die saying there is no one who is indispensable.

"We are equal, nobody can claim he is indispensable that without them ODM is going to die," Oburu said.

Speaking at the same event, ODM deputy party leader Abdulswamad Nassir while backing the resolutions said discipline is paramount in the Orange party.

“There is no growth of any political party without discipline, this outfit was built on the foundation of discipline,” Nassir said.

Responding to the changes, MP Amisi said there is a plot to remove anyone opposed to President Ruto’s UDA deal from the party.

"They are testing the ground to remove everyone not supporting Ruto. You know who is next! I gladly became the first casualty! We shall not relent. History will judge us fairly! Kenya needs a renaissance!" Amisi said.

Earlier, Oburu set a firm tone at the start of the NEC meeting, urging members to decisively address what he termed as growing indiscipline within the party ranks.

In his opening address, Oburu told the meeting that leaders openly defying and contradicting the party’s official position could no longer be tolerated.

He stressed that while ODM remains a democratic outfit that accommodates divergent views, public dissent that undermines collective resolutions was not democracy but disorder.

“I am not very happy that when we pass resolutions here, some of the members of this committee, some of the members of the Central Committee who are policy makers of this party, go out to say exactly the contrary of what we have agreed in committees,” he said.

“It is okay if other members of our party exercise democratic rights to say what they like. It is not right for me, as a party leader, to go out and shout what was not agreed upon and what is my personal view, and then say it is my democratic right. If it is your democratic right, then there is chaos in the country. Democracy does not mean chaos.”

Oburu stressed that democracy allows debate but ultimately requires adherence to majority decisions.

“The minority have a right to say, and the majority has its way. That is why you do elections. If you are in the minority, you follow what the majority have decided. That is the cardinal principle of democracy, which I want our party to adhere to, and I’m very disappointed that sometimes we just come here, we agree, and then when we go out, we say something else. I hope some of these issues will be discussed, and I hope that our party will continue to be strong,” he said.

INSTANT ANALYSIS

ODM held its second NEC meeting in Mombasa on Wednesday, the first one being presided over by party leader Oburu Oginga. The first meeting appointed Oburu as Raila’s replacement.