Troubled ODM Secretary-General Edwin Sifuna has been dropped from the Senate Energy Committee, which is led by ODM leader Oburu Oginga.
The Nairobi senator was replaced by Homa Bay Senator Moses Kajwang’ in a reshuffle carried out on Wednesday.
The change means Sifuna will no longer sit on the panel chaired by Oburu, who also represents Siaya in the Senate.
Oburu and Sifuna have been at odds over ODM’s internal management and the party’s decision to form a coalition pact with President William Ruto’s UDA.
Under the reshuffle, Garissa Senator Abdul Haji took over from nominated Senator Beatrice Ogolla on the Energy Committee, while Machakos Senator Agnes Kavindu was appointed to the Senate Information, Communication and Technology Committee, also replacing Ogolla.
Ogolla then took Kajwang’s place on the Senate Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries Committee.
Unlike the other senators affected by the reshuffle, Sifuna was not moved to another committee, meaning he now sits on only two panels: the Senate County Public Accounts Committee chaired by Kajwang’ and the Senate National Security, Intelligence and Foreign Relations Committee chaired by Isiolo Senator Fatuma Dullo.
In announcing the changes, Senate Majority Leader Cheruiyot pointed to the Senate Standing Orders and a recommendation from the Senate Business Committee.
“Despite the Senate resolution passed on February 12, 2025, approving senators for various standing committees, and in line with Standing Orders 197, 199, 228 and the Fourth Schedule to the Standing Orders, the Senate has approved the senators nominated by the Senate Business Committee to serve on different committees,” Cheruiyot said.
Sifuna’s exit from the committee comes amid a growing public rift with Oburu.
Earlier this year, the Nairobi senator stated publicly that he was not prepared to serve under Oburu’s ODM leadership after he was elevated as party leader following Raila Odinga’s exit from the position.
Sifuna has been among the most active voices on the Energy Committee and was one of the senators who strongly challenged the controversial Adani Group proposal to expand Jomo Kenyatta International Airport before the government eventually cancelled the deal.
The committee reshuffle takes place as divisions within ODM continue to widen.
Sifuna is linked to the party’s Linda Mwananchi faction, while Oburu is regarded as a leading figure in the Linda Ground camp. The two groups have increasingly diverged over the party’s ties with President William Ruto’s administration.
Sifuna’s allies have kept a firm opposition position and continue to criticise the broad-based arrangement between ODM and Kenya Kwanza, while the Oburu camp is seen as favouring continued engagement with the government.
The split became evident in March when Sifuna strongly criticised sections of the party leadership.
“I refuse to be the SG of mediocrity. I refuse to be the SG of Oburu Oginga. These characters do not deserve me. Let them ask for a proper NDC where we shall present candidates for all the party positions,” he said.