The Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) has removed Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna as the party’s Secretary-General following a high-stakes National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting held on Wednesday in Mombasa.
The decision, announced after hours of closed-door deliberations, signals a significant shake-up within the party’s top leadership and a possible shift in its political trajectory ahead of the next General Election.
Deputy Secretary-General and Busia Woman Representative Dr Catherine Omanyo confirmed that the NEC resolved to dismiss Senator Sifuna with immediate effect.
Omanyo takes over as acting ODM SG after Sifuna was ejected.
“After reviewing matters concerning the conduct of the Secretary-General, Senator Edwin Sifuna, the NEC resolved to remove him from office in line with the party constitution and relevant laws,” Dr Omanyo told journalists.
She said the Deputy Secretary-General will assume the role in an acting capacity pending the election of a substantive office holder.
The NEC did not disclose specific details regarding the conduct that informed the decision.
However, earlier remarks by Party Leader Dr Oburu Oginga pointed to concerns over senior officials allegedly expressing views that conflicted with the party’s official positions on key matters.
Senator Sifuna has been among ODM’s most prominent national figures, often serving as a key spokesperson on political and governance issues.
Coalition Strategy Centralised
In the same meeting, the NEC adopted resolutions previously passed by the party’s Central Committee on January 12, 2026, granting the party leader full authority to spearhead negotiations on ODM’s pre-election coalition arrangements.
Dr Omanyo said the mandate empowers the party leader to guide coalition talks in line with ODM’s ideology, strategic priorities and the interests of its members.
The move effectively centralises coalition negotiations at the highest level of the party as political alliances begin to take shape ahead of the next polls.
Exit From Azimio
The NEC also resolved to begin the formal process of withdrawing from the Azimio la Umoja–One Kenya coalition.
According to the party, a review of recent developments within the coalition revealed what it termed breaches of the founding agreement by some partner parties.
“To protect the integrity, independence and long-term direction of ODM, the NEC has resolved to initiate withdrawal from the coalition in accordance with the law,” Dr Omanyo said.
If completed, the withdrawal could trigger a major realignment within the opposition and reshape the political landscape in the run-up to the election.
Devolution and Human Rights
On matters of devolution, the NEC directed Minority Leader Junet Mohamed to push for mechanisms that would entrench a Sh450 billion allocation to counties in the forthcoming supplementary budget.
The party further called on the national government to allocate funds for compensating victims of human rights violations, recommending that the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights oversee the disbursement to ensure accountability and timely compensation.
Delegates Convention
ODM will convene a National Delegates Convention in Nairobi on March 26, 2026, where members are expected to ratify key decisions made by party organs and outline the party’s roadmap toward the next General Election.
The resolutions adopted in Mombasa mark one of the most consequential internal restructurings within ODM in recent years, with implications likely to ripple across the broader political arena.
Edited by John Majau
