Tribunal extends orders barring Sifuna’s ouster as ODM SG

The Political Parties Disputes Tribunal (PPDT) has extended orders preventing the removal of Edwin Sifuna as Secretary General of the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM).

The orders set the stage for a full hearing on March 12, 2026.

The extension came after Sifuna’s defence requested the tribunal to maintain the status quo while the matter is determined.

"Hearing by way of highlighting of submissions will be held on March 12, 2026, at 10 am,” the court ruled.

The application, filed by Sifuna, sought urgent relief from the tribunal following the National Executive Committee’s (NEC) resolution that purportedly ousted him from the party’s top secretariat position.

Sifuna asked the tribunal to certify the matter as urgent and hear it ex parte, citing concerns that the decision to remove him was taken without giving him a chance to defend himself.

In his filings, Sifuna sought orders suspending the implementation of the NEC resolution, restraining both the party and the Office of the Registrar of Political Parties from publishing the decision in the Kenya Gazette.

The party, however, has disputed Sifuna’s claims, maintaining that he rushed to court before engaging the party’s Internal Dispute Resolution Mechanisms (IDRM).

ODM contends that the NEC’s actions were part of a constitutionally anchored internal process consistent with the party’s constitution and the principles of fair administrative action.

In its submissions, ODM noted that “before the NEC could issue the formal notice contemplated under Article 74(3) and trigger the structured IDRM of the party, Sifuna moved to court and obtained conservatory orders restraining the ODM from proceeding further. This action effectively halted a process that was still in its formative stage.”

The party further argued that, under Section 40(2) of the Political Parties Act, Sifuna was required to exhaust available internal remedies before approaching the tribunal.

“The doctrine of exhaustion requires parties to exhaust available remedies before resorting to court action, and therefore this Honourable Tribunal has no jurisdiction to entertain this matter,” ODM stated in its response.

ODM asked the Tribunal to dismiss the case for lack of jurisdiction.

“A Preliminary Objection has been filed and served with this Affidavit, and the ODM prays that this Complaint be struck out with costs,” the party, through Secretary for Special Interest Groups in the NECHalima Daro said.

The NEC member said in its response dated February 21, 2026, that the process regarding Sifuna’s removal arose from concerns over how he communicated the Party's position on several issues, which the party says led to differing interpretations of its stance.