ODM removes Edwin Sifuna as party Secretary General

The Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) has removed Secretary General Edwin Sifuna from office with immediate effect following a National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting held in Mombasa on Wednesday.

The meeting, chaired by party leader Dr. Oburu Oginga, resolved that Sifuna be relieved of his duties in line with the party constitution and applicable laws over what the committee termed as concerns about discipline within the party’s senior leadership.

ODM Deputy Secretary General and Busia Woman Representative Catherine Omanyo will serve as acting Secretary General until a substantive office holder is elected.

“The NEC expressed grave concern over the rising levels of indiscipline within the Party, particularly at the senior leadership level. The Committee underscored that ODM is governed by its Constitution, the rule of law, and collective decision-making through its duly constituted organs,” noted the party in a statement read by Omanyo.

“Having deliberated on matters relating to the conduct of the Secretary General Edwin Sifuna, the NEC resolved to remove him from office with immediate effect in accordance with the Party Constitution and applicable laws. Effectively, the Deputy Secretary General Catherine Omanyo will act in this position until a substantive holder of the position is elected.”

Beyond the leadership changes, the committee adopted resolutions earlier passed by the party’s Central Committee, including formally mandating Oburu to spearhead negotiations on ODM’s pre-election coalition arrangements with other political parties.

The NEC said the negotiations would be guided by the party’s ideological foundations, strategic interests and the aspirations of its membership.

The committee also reviewed progress on the implementation of ODM’s 10-Point Agenda and the NADCO report, and urged stakeholders to remove obstacles slowing reforms.

It further directed National Assembly Minority Leader Junet Mohamed to institute mechanisms to ensure the proposed allocation of Ksh.450 billion to counties is made mandatory in the supplementary budget.

On human rights, the party called on the national government to allocate adequate funds in the forthcoming supplementary budget to compensate victims of human rights violations, proposing that the funds be channelled through the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR) to ensure transparency and accountability.

The NEC also resolved to initiate the formal process of withdrawing from the Azimio la Umoja One Kenya Coalition, citing what it described as sustained breaches of the coalition’s Deed of Agreement by some partners.

According to the statement, the move is aimed at safeguarding ODM’s autonomy, integrity and strategic direction.

Oburu dismissed the recent changes made by former Azimio Chairman President Uhuru Kenyatta, claiming that ODM, as the majority share in the coalition, was supposed to have been consulted before any decisions were arrived at.

The ODM NEC resolutions signal a broader restructuring within the party as it repositions itself ahead of future political negotiations and alliances.