By Correspondent
A fierce political storm has erupted within the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) following the dramatic ouster of Secretary General Edwin Sifuna and his allies by the party’s National Executive Committee (NEC) led by Oburu Odinga.
In a swift and defiant response, Sifuna dismissed the decision as “irregular, rushed, and politically engineered,” accusing a section of the party leadership of orchestrating an internal coup to silence dissenting voices.Speaking shortly after the announcement, Sifuna maintained that the NEC meeting lacked procedural integrity and failed to adhere to the party’s constitution.
He insisted that he remains the legitimate Secretary General and vowed to challenge what he termed as a “brazen attempt to hijack the soul of ODM.”“ODM does not belong to a few individuals. It is a democratic party built on consultation and collective leadership. We will not allow impunity to replace internal democracy,” Sifuna declared.
The embattled Secretary General further claimed that the move signals deep divisions within the party, warning that the unfolding crisis could weaken ODM ahead of upcoming political realignments.His faction has accused the Oburu-led NEC of acting unilaterally and failing to consult key stakeholders within the party structures.
Allies of Sifuna have described the ouster as politically motivated and designed to consolidate control within a narrow circle of leadership.On the other hand, party insiders aligned to the NEC insist the decision was lawful and necessary to restore order and discipline within the party ranks.
The escalating exchange has now exposed simmering tensions within ODM, with analysts warning that the standoff could evolve into a full-blown factional showdown if not urgently resolved.As both sides dig in, the future direction of one of Kenya’s largest political parties now hangs in the balance.
