ODM Fires Sifuna as Secretary General for Second Time in Five Months

By Kenya Political Desk | June 24, 2026 | Kenya Politics, Party Affairs, 2027 Elections Watch

NAIROBI, Kenya — Edwin Sifuna ODM removal 2026 is now official. The Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) has ousted Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna as its Secretary General for the second time in less than five months — a dramatic move that deepens a bitter internal war and raises serious questions about the future of one of Kenya’s most powerful opposition parties ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The decision was reached during a NEC meeting held on Monday, June 22, at Chungwa House, chaired by ODM National Chairperson, Homa Bay Governor Gladys Wanga, in the presence of party leader Oburu Odinga. The NEC considered a report from the Internal Disputes Resolution Committee (IDRC), which had been tasked with investigating a complaint against Senator Sifuna in his capacity as Secretary General. After reviewing the committee’s findings, the NEC unanimously adopted its recommendations and endorsed Sifuna’s removal from office.

Who Is Edwin Sifuna? A Quick Profile

Edwin Sifuna is a 43-year-old lawyer and Nairobi Senator widely regarded as one of Kenya’s most sharp-tongued and recognisable politicians. He rose to national prominence as a fierce defender of former Prime Minister Raila Odinga and was elected ODM Secretary General on the strength of his grassroots energy, fiery television appearances, and signature rallying cry — “Sisi ndio Sifuna” — which became synonymous with ODM’s opposition identity.

He leads the Linda Mwananchi movement, an internal opposition bloc within ODM comprising anti-government lawmakers including Siaya Governor James Orengo and Embakasi East MP Babu Owino. The movement has actively fronted anti-government protests and publicly opposed ODM’s cooperation deal with President William Ruto’s Kenya Kwanza administration — putting Sifuna on a direct collision course with the party’s current leadership.

The June 22 Ouster: What ODM Said

Acting Secretary General Catherine Omanyo delivered the removal verdict in a formal statement at Chungwa House:

“After going through the report and the findings of the IDRM under Article 74(2) of the Party Constitution, the NEC unanimously resolved to adopt the Committee’s recommendations and endorsed the removal from office of Senator Edwin Watenya Sifuna. Effectively, Senator Sifuna ceases to be the Secretary General of the ODM Party.” — Catherine Omanyo, ODM Acting Secretary General, June 22, 2026

The ODM interim Secretary General said the decision followed a review conducted in line with the party constitution, with the party’s Internal Dispute Resolution Committee constituted in accordance with Article 51(3)(f) of the party constitution to hear and determine the complaint concerning Senator Sifuna in his capacity as the Secretary General.

ODM also leaned on the Political Parties Disputes Tribunal’s own language to defend the move:

“The day any official of a party becomes above the law, so to speak, will be the day of the funeral of political party democracy in Kenya.” — Political Parties Disputes Tribunal ruling, cited by ODM

This Has Happened Before: The February Ouster Explained

The June 22 removal was not the first attempt. The NEC first moved to remove Sifuna during a meeting in Mombasa on February 11, 2026, citing rising levels of indiscipline within the party at the senior leadership level, with Deputy Secretary General Catherine Omanyo picked to act in the position until a substantive holder was elected.

That February ouster collapsed in court. In a judgement delivered on Thursday, June 18, 2026, Tribunal Chair Gad Gathu found that the process leading to the NEC resolution was fundamentally flawed — Sifuna was not given adequate notice that his conduct would be discussed during the NEC meeting, and the tentative agenda circulated ahead of the meeting failed to indicate that disciplinary issues concerning the senator would be considered.

The tribunal was clear, however, that Sifuna had no immunity:

“For the avoidance of doubt, ODM is at liberty to institute and conclude disciplinary proceedings against the complainant.” — PPDT Chair Gad Gathu, June 18, 2026

The tribunal vacated its earlier protective orders on March 26, 2026, paving the way for disciplinary proceedings to continue. When Sifuna’s lead counsel, Senior Counsel Isaac Okero, appeared before the committee on April 20, 2026 and informed members that his client would not proceed with the hearing, citing alleged bias within the committee, the IDRM then proceeded to hear the matter without him.

Sifuna’s Response: “Unprocedural, Unfair, Unconstitutional”

Sifuna hit back immediately. In a statement issued on Tuesday, June 23, 2026, Sifuna’s Linda Mwananchi team said the latest NEC decision bore the same flaws as the February attempt and announced they would once again test the removal in court. “After consultation with our legal teams earlier this morning, it has been decided to once again test the propriety of the purported ouster in the courts because we are convinced it should suffer the same fate as the first one in February,” the statement said.

The faction’s full position was direct:

“We were made aware of the decision by the ODM Party NEC purporting, for the second time, to remove the SG Hon. Edwin Sifuna from office. On the face of it, the decision bears similarities with the first one in February — unprocedural, unfair and contrary to the Party’s Constitution.” — Linda Mwananchi Faction Statement, June 23, 2026

The Deeper Cause: Ruto, Raila’s Legacy, and a Party Identity Crisis

At the root of the Edwin Sifuna ODM removal 2026 saga is a fundamental ideological split. When the late Raila Odinga brokered a broad-based cooperation agreement between ODM and President William Ruto’s administration, the party effectively crossed from opposition to partnership with the government. Current party leader Oburu Odinga has maintained that arrangement.

Sifuna refused to follow. Despite his party’s cooperation with government, Sifuna maintained a rebellious stance, stating he would never support a Ruto re-election bid, even if his party dictated it. Due to his outspoken opposition, Sifuna faced immense pressure from within ODM to align with the government or resign.

Former ODM National Chairman and current Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi had publicly called for Sifuna’s expulsion, describing him as a stumbling block to the party’s cohesion.

Sifuna also suffered a separate setback after being removed from the influential Senate Energy Committee and replaced by Homa Bay Senator Moses Kajwang’, and was not assigned to any new committee — a move widely interpreted as part of a broader effort to isolate him from strategic parliamentary platforms.

What Analysts Are Saying

Despite his setbacks, political analysts caution against writing Sifuna off.

Prof. Gitile Naituli, Professor of Management and Leadership at Multimedia University of Kenya, told the Daily Nation:

“Edwin Sifuna is certainly at an important political crossroads, but crossroads in politics often create opportunities rather than endings. He remains one of the country’s most visible and articulate politicians and has built a national profile that extends well beyond Nairobi.” — Prof. Gitile Naituli, Multimedia University of Kenya

Political commentator Antony Mokua outlined the risk-reward calculation:

“Sifuna can rock the boat by causing a by-election and running on his own party. He will pronounce his political arrival if he wins.” — Antony Mokua, Political Commentator

Analysts say Sifuna must now decide whether to “fight, flee, negotiate or gamble” — remain in ODM and fight for its soul, break away and build his own political vehicle, or position himself as a running mate for one of the United Opposition’s presidential hopefuls.

The 2027 Election Dimension: Why This Goes Beyond ODM

The Edwin Sifuna ODM removal 2026 story is not just about one politician or one party. It is a bellwether for Kenya’s broader political realignment ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The United Opposition, led by Wiper’s Kalonzo Musyoka and former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, has already been wooing Sifuna and Babu Owino to join their side ahead of 2027. A Sifuna defection would hand that coalition a powerful Nairobi base, a sharp communicator, and a politician with strong Luo community ties.

Meanwhile, the Linda Mwananchi faction has postponed its Kisii and Keroka rallies scheduled for Friday, June 26, 2026, to Friday, July 3, 2026, choosing instead to join Kenyans standing in solidarity with victims of the Gen-Z protests of 2024 during the June 25 commemoration.

The move signals that Sifuna’s faction is far from finished — and is carefully positioning itself on the right side of public sentiment.

As Kenya heads deeper into 2026, the political landscape is at a pivotal turning point, with shifting alliances, rising youth activism, legal contestations, and preparations for the next general elections all converging to test the resilience of Kenyan democracy.

What Happens Next

A fresh court filing from Sifuna’s legal team is expected imminently, likely seeking orders to suspend the NEC resolution pending hearing. Based on the February precedent, the Political Parties Disputes Tribunal remains the first port of call.

For ODM, the challenge is managing the optics of a very public purge at a time when party unity is paramount. For Sifuna, the challenge is converting political notoriety into durable electoral capital.

One thing is certain: this story is far from over.

📌 Key Facts at a Glance

Event	Action
Date of removal	June 22, 2026
Venue	Chungwa House, Nairobi
NEC Chair	Gladys Wanga (Homa Bay Governor)
Party Leader Present	Oburu Odinga
Acting SG	Catherine Omanyo
First ouster	February 11, 2026 (overturned)
Tribunal ruling	June 18, 2026 — PPDT found February ouster flawed
Sifuna’s response	Vows fresh court challenge
His movement	Linda Mwananchi

Who Is Edwin Sifuna? A Quick Profile

The June 22 Ouster: What ODM Said

This Has Happened Before: The February Ouster Explained

Sifuna’s Response: “Unprocedural, Unfair, Unconstitutional”

The Deeper Cause: Ruto, Raila’s Legacy, and a Party Identity Crisis

What Analysts Are Saying

The 2027 Election Dimension: Why This Goes Beyond ODM

What Happens Next

📌 Key Facts at a Glance

🔗 Read More