This man Edwin Sifuna – hero or villain?

Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna, accompanied by ODM party members, addresses journalists at the Savora Panafric Hotel, Nairobi, on February 12, 2026./DOUGLAS OKIDDY

After months of speculation and rising internal strife within the Orange Democratic Movement, the hammer finally fell on firebrand Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna, with the party ousting him as secretary general and appointing Busia Woman Rep Catherine Omanyo to serve in an acting capacity.

The decision was reached during a National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting at PrideInn Hotel in Mombasa, chaired by party leader Oburu Oginga.

The NEC accused Sifuna of speaking at cross purposes with the party’s position, particularly on ongoing pre-election coalition talks with President William Ruto’s United Democratic Alliance (UDA).

“Having deliberated on matters relating to the conduct of the secretary general, the NEC resolved to remove him with immediate effect in accordance with the party constitution and applicable laws,” Omanyo said shortly after the meeting.

The move sparked mixed reactions, with Sifuna acknowledging he had received overwhelming “messages of support and encouragement”.

On Thursday, Sifuna addressed the press to challenge the legality of the NEC decision to remove him, suggesting a potential legal battle or fight to reclaim his position within the party.

Speaking at a press briefing in Nairobi on February 12, a day after the party’s National Executive Committee (NEC) resolved to relieve him of his duties, Sifuna described the decision as illegal and criticised the process leading to his ouster.

“I was not given a chance to defend myself,” he said, asserting that the NEC’s action violated party procedures.

Sifuna maintained that he remains committed to ODM and its founding ideals, vowing to continue defending the party.

“Whatever actions I take, I will do so knowing that I have never let down my leader, Raila. We shall fight for ODM; surrender is not an option for us. I remain a loyal member and the duly elected Secretary General of ODM,” he said.

He described the accusations levelled against him as defamatory, challenging governors and other leaders who alleged misconduct to present evidence.

“This is a coordinated war against me. You people know me and my work. Those governors making those allegations, we will meet them in court because it is very defamatory. If I have ever extorted you, bring the evidence for Kenyans to see,” Sifuna said.

He also insisted that his position as Secretary-General cannot be nullified by the NEC’s decision.

“I am still the SG of ODM. We will go to that NDC. We are still members of NDC; these are delegates of ODM. No one can kick us out of the party,” he said.

Speaking on Citizen TV Wednesday night, Treasury CS and ODM national chairman John Mbadi expressed disappointment with what he termed Sifuna’s persistent defiance of party resolutions, clarifying that he had only been recommended for removal, not formally ousted.

“And to me, they have acted within the law, within the constitution of the party. The National Executive Committee has only recommended. Sifuna has been recommended for removal,” he said, even as he reprimanded him for “speaking his mind”.

“Sifuna is supposed to be the spokesperson of the party. When you are the spokesperson of a political party, you don’t speak your mind to the public contrary to what the party has resolved,” he said.

“What you speak is what the party has resolved; your mind you express in the meeting.”

Until his ouster, Sifuna had served as ODM secretary general since February 23, 2018, succeeding another Raila protégé, Ababu Namwamba, who left to join the government as Chief Administrative Secretary in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

His position was later confirmed by the National Delegates Convention in 2022, placing him on the path to becoming one of the party’s key figures.

On his seventh anniversary as SG, Sifuna said he was enjoying playing a central role in amplifying ODM’s principles, beliefs and political doctrines anchored in democracy and constitutionalism.

“Time does fly when you are having fun. It’s seven years to the day today! It's very easy to be SG of ODM. You just need to follow the blueprint left by Gerald Otieno Kajwang. Loyalty. Fidelity. Faithfulness. Easy as ABC,” he said on February 23, 2025.

But that once-unwavering loyalism appeared to wane.

Regarded as one of Raila’s most faithful lieutenants, Sifuna began showing dissent even before the opposition chief’s sudden death in October 2025.

During the signing of the 10-point agenda with UDA on March 7, 2025, at the KICC, he signed the agreement documents half-heartedly, saying he was doing so out of obligation rather than support for the ODM-UDA pact.

His open defiance drew sharp criticism from proponents of the deal, prompting Raila to step in despite pressure to remove him.

“If Sifuna has spoken, he has a right to do so. If you don’t agree with what he has said, speak out. That’s what democracy is about and I haven’t stopped anyone from airing their views,” Raila said on July 25, 2025, during a party meeting in Kakamega.

He maintained that ODM must tolerate divergent views without victimising dissenters.

“If you have an issue, speak up. Even if you think I have made a mistake, tell me." The intervention followed backlash after Sifuna called the ODM-UDA cooperation agreement “dead” in a TV interview days earlier.

He argued that the death of blogger and teacher Albert Ojwang in police custody violated the very foundation of the pact, which centred on preservation of life.

Despite the agreement, he said, lives were still being lost while Ruto enjoyed a protest-free political space until 2027.

“But our people are not benefiting; they are still being killed. On the day Albert Ojwang dies in a police cell, for me, this agreement is dead. It doesn’t matter what else you do, Albert will not be able to enjoy any of it,” he explained.

After Raila’s death on October 15, Sifuna doubled down, insisting there was never a pact committing ODM to back Ruto’s re-election in 2027.

He repeatedly referenced Raila’s last public speech on September 22, 2025, at a party meeting in Machakos County, where he urged unity while safeguarding party sovereignty.

“We signed and agreed that we will work together up to 2027. We have not passed any resolution as a party to say how we are going to go into an election in 2027, so wherever you are, don’t commit the party to some things which have not been discussed. Who told you that ODM will not have a candidate?” he asked.

“We have a clear plan that we have negotiated and agreed on and let us continue to implement that plan. Other decisions we will take when the time comes.”

Sifuna has consistently branded those pushing for a pre-election pact with UDA as sell-outs who have mortgaged the party for self-interest, contrary to what Raila stood for.

Mbadi, however, painted a picture of a man loved and hated in equal measure from the start. Though a darling of Raila Odinga, he said, many party luminaries never warmed up to him.

He described Sifuna’s ascension to the SG post as something of “a coup”, saying it happened against the wishes of most members, who preferred Wafula Buke.

“I know how Sifuna got into that position. He was not the favourite. We sat with Baba and agreed. The favourite was Wafula Buke. The Western delegates did not want to hear of Sifuna at Orange House. Baba thought through and said we need someone who is very strong,” he said.

“We saw someone with enthusiasm who could run the party, but when he started we saw some kind of challenges and we sat him down and told him you are the secretary general, you shouldn’t contradict the leadership.”

Mbadi said their fallout stemmed mainly from two issues: disrespect to party leadership and association with rebels who had effectively left the party.

“I’m very excited (that Sifuna has been removed). I’m one of the people who have been so depressed seeing what Sifuna was doing for ODM. If you’re claiming to respect Raila and you want to destroy his party months after his death, it is not fair to his legacy,” he said.

Sifuna has since been leading a rebel faction opposed to the ODM-UDA pact, alongside Siaya Senator James Orengo and Embakasi East MP Babu Owino.

Mbadi said divergent opinion is tolerated within the party, but this should be done with some level of respect.

“Not that we agreed with the decisions of Raila Odinga as a party leader, but once the party leader communicates, especially on cases of forming alliances, that responsibility rests with the party leader. Then you need to show some decorum and respect,” Mbadi said.

He added that the party would rather have fewer but loyal supporters than a divided house.

Following his ouster, Sifuna is now at a major turning point in his political career.

He has announced the continuation of his Linda Mwananchi public tours, with an event planned in Kitengela on February 15, indicating he intends to maintain his grassroots momentum, potentially alongside his allies.