A fierce rebellion has erupted within the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) after a section of senators declared the removal of Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna as Deputy Minority Whip illegal, accusing party leaders and State House of orchestrating what they described as a calculated political purge to silence one of the government’s fiercest critics.
The lawmakers mounted an extraordinary attack on the process that led to Sifuna’s ouster, saying Senate leadership changes were pushed through in defiance of ODM procedures, Azimio coalition agreements and parliamentary rules.
Speaking in Nairobi, Vihiga Senator Godfrey Osotsi painted the removal as a premeditated operation designed solely to eject Sifuna because of his opposition to the broad-based political arrangement between ODM and President William Ruto’s Kenya Kwanza administration.
“Terms the removal of Edwin Watenya Sifuna as Deputy Party Minority Whip is illegal. We as Azimio senators yesterday received a message of invitation to a high level lunch as it was revealed that Senators in broadbased were in a meeting with President Ruto,” Osotsi said.
He said the plan to remove Sifuna emerged unexpectedly after the burial of ODM leader Raila Odinga’s bodyguard, insisting no legitimate Parliamentary Group meeting had been scheduled beforehand.
“During Raila Odinga funeral we never had a PG meeting. In that meeting we were shocked to learn that there was only one agenda to remove Sifuna. The convening of the meeting was illegal and it was improper,” Osotsi said.
According to him, a second meeting was hastily convened later that evening through the ODM senators’ WhatsApp forum.
“After that a message was posted in ODM Senators Whatsapp forum by Ledama Olekina requesting for a PG meeting at night 7:30PM. We attended and were to learn ther was only one agenda to remove sifuna. Majority of the senators questioned the process.”
Osotsi alleged that despite widespread objections, party leadership pressed ahead with the meeting.
“The two leaders of ODM, Ledama Olekina and Stewart Madzayo were on calls and they insisted on continuing with the meeting.”
He further questioned the legitimacy of the outcome, arguing that the numbers fell short of demonstrating the support required to justify Sifuna’s removal.
“Out of the 21 Senators who attended the meeting, only 10 appended their names to the list of his removal. The rest of us did not and the meeting did not have the resolutions and it was not properly done.”
Despite those objections, Osotsi said the Senate proceeded to effect the leadership changes.
“With all those the flaws and illegalities the speaker of the Senate has proceeded to announce the changes to the leadership of the minority side. We pointed out that the decision involving the Azimio coalition has to be processed within the rules and regulations within Azimio which requires that the principals of Azimio need to have been consulted.”
The senator said Sifuna’s removal reflected a deeper crisis within ODM, claiming the party had abandoned its founding principles.
“The experience happened before the Sifuna replacement was sad. It was uncalled for. My Party ODM is bleeding, it has lost direction. The party has descended into a tribal party club. Removing Sifuna to replace someone from a different club because he is not supporting the broadbased.”
In one of the strongest attacks directed at the Executive, Osotsi accused President William Ruto of interfering in Parliament.
“President Ruto you’re doing many wrongs in this country but leave Parliament alone. The effort that has been used to remove just one person from a seat is out of this world.”
Makueni Senator Dan Maanzo also rejected the process, saying Sifuna’s removal had no legal basis.
“The proper procedures were never followed and it was more of intimidation making this choice. Sifuna has been illegally removed and this country needs to come back to it’s sanity.”
He argued that the move would ultimately strengthen Sifuna politically.
“Removing Sifuna is hardening him. ODM joining the UDA was a bad choice. Olekina is serving illegally and Stewart Madzayo are all serving illegally.”
Machakos Senator Agnes Kavindu described the late-night Parliamentary Group meeting as suspicious and unnecessary.
“It was shocking a PG meeting called at 7:30PM. Two of our members called me to come and join them and this was a meeting which was uncalled for, unacceptable and this is a mileage for Sifuna to continue leading the Linda Mwanachi. You’ve a greener and better future. Kenya needs a change.”
She added,”We need liberty and we do not want to be controlled by the State house.”
Busia Senator Okiya Omtatah escalated the claims, alleging that senators aligned to the broad-based arrangement acted under instructions from State House.
“It was a clandestine move. Senators aligned to broadbased acted on instructions from the statehouse.”
He maintained that the vote lacked sufficient support and accused those behind it of attempting to subordinate Parliament to the Executive.
“Only 10 appended the signatures to remove Sifuna, some of us resisted and we tore those voting papers because it was absolutely nothing. We know they want to remove Osotsi from CPIC committee. We cannot accept to be turned into appendix of the government.”
Omtatah vowed that the changes would be challenged.
“We will eject Olekina from the minority Whip, eject Senator Stewart Madzayo from his seat and eject Senator Eddy Oketch Gicheru from their seat and bring Sifuna back.”
Kisii Senator Richard Onyonka warned that the dispute reflected a broader erosion of parliamentary independence.
“We are worried about where our country is heading. The Senate and National Assembly have been castrated.”
He urged Kenyans to pay close attention to the unfolding political developments.
“Kenyans must be aware that now you’re on your own, Sifuna has been lynched because of his Stern stand. If this country goes this way, some of us may survive and some of us may not.”
Onyonka concluded by elevating Sifuna’s political significance, saying:
“Sifuna is an accident of History now. I’m so disappointed.”
The coordinated defence mounted by the senators transformed what had appeared to be an internal ODM leadership reshuffle into a full-blown confrontation over the future of the opposition.
By portraying Sifuna as the victim of an unlawful purge driven by his refusal to embrace the broad-based political arrangement, the lawmakers signalled that the battle has moved beyond a party dispute and into a wider contest over the independence of Parliament and the direction of the Azimio coalition.
