Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna has accepted his removal as Secretary General of the Orange Democratic Movement, signaling a reluctant exit while issuing a sharp critique of the party’s emerging leadership.
Speaking during the party’s National Delegates Convention at Ufungamano House in Nairobi, Sifuna said he would not contest the decision but made clear he would not serve under what he described as “mediocrity.”
“You want to tell me I can be Secretary General of Raila Amollo Odinga for eight years and then become the SG of mediocrity?” he posed.
His remarks underscore growing tensions within ODM following leadership changes that have exposed deep internal divisions.
Sifuna directly criticized a faction associated with Oburu Oginga, which he accused of orchestrating his removal through irregular processes.
“Oburu, look for your own SG. I cannot be your SG!” he said, drawing applause from supporters at the convention.
He further alleged that positions within the party were being allocated through unofficial channels, dismissing the legitimacy of the process.
“This mischief they are doing in Ngong Road, of giving out positions through the back door, there is no ODM member who recognizes those things,” he said.
The dispute reflects broader concerns over internal democracy within the party, which has historically positioned itself as a reformist political force.
Loyalty to Raila Odinga remains intact
Despite his criticism of the current leadership direction, Sifuna reaffirmed his loyalty to longtime ODM leader Raila Amollo Odinga, describing his tenure under him as a defining period in his career.
“It has been the honor of my life to serve as Secretary General of probably the greatest politician this country will ever see,” he said.
However, he drew a clear distinction between his respect for Odinga and his rejection of the new leadership structure.
“After Baba Raila Amollo Odinga, you characters don’t deserve me,” he added.
Meanwhile, the Political Parties Disputes Tribunal declined to intervene directly in the matter, instead directing Sifuna to exhaust ODM’s internal dispute resolution mechanisms.
The tribunal ruled that the process had not reached a stage warranting external intervention, leaving the dispute to be handled within party structures.
The development adds another layer of complexity to an already fractured political landscape within ODM, as questions linger over leadership legitimacy and party unity.
