The Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) Central Management Committee unanimously endorsed a decision by the party’s National Executive Committee (NEC) to remove Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna from the position of Secretary-General, escalating a leadership dispute that now appears headed for another legal battle.
The move comes barely a week after the Political Parties Disputes Tribunal cleared the way for the party to institute disciplinary proceedings against Sifuna, setting the stage for the latest round of internal wrangles within the opposition party.
However, a section of leaders allied to the Linda Mwananchi movement has rejected the decision, describing it as unconstitutional and procedurally flawed. In a statement issued as preparations intensify for the June 25 nationwide commemorations in honour of victims of the 2024 Gen-Z protests, the leaders declared their support for Sifuna and announced plans to challenge the decision in court.
“We’ve been 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. 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.”Suba South MP, Caroli Omondi read.
The statement signals the beginning of what could be another prolonged legal contest over the leadership of ODM, following a similar attempt to remove Sifuna earlier this year that was successfully challenged.
Linda Mwananchi leaders argued that the latest decision mirrors the February ouster attempt and therefore raises serious concerns about adherence to the party’s constitution and internal democratic processes. They expressed confidence that the courts would once again overturn the move.
Rarieda Member of Parliament Otiende Amollo defended the decision by the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) National Executive Committee to remove Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna from his position as Secretary-General.
“As the National Executive Committee, we were presented with a report of our internal disciplinary committee. In that report, they made it very clear that they had given ample opportunity to Senator Edwin Sifuna to respond,” Amollo said.
The dispute unfolds at a politically sensitive moment as opposition leaders mobilise supporters ahead of June 25 commemorations expected to take place across the country. The events are being organised to honour victims who lost their lives during the 2024 Gen-Z protests and to renew calls for accountability and justice.
The leadership wrangle within ODM now threatens to overshadow the preparations, with Sifuna’s supporters insisting that the party’s internal disagreements should not distract from the broader agenda being championed by the opposition movement.
With the ODM Central Management Committee backing the NEC’s decision and Linda Mwananchi leaders preparing a fresh court challenge, the fate of Sifuna’s tenure as Secretary-General is once again set to be determined through legal channels.
