New information has surfaced indicating that influential elements within and outside ODM are actively pursuing the removal of Secretary General Edwin Sifuna from his Senate leadership role. The Star has confirmed that plans to oust Sifuna as Deputy Minority Whip are well advanced. This follows his recent unceremonious removal from the Energy Committee, headed by ODM heavyweight Senator Oburu Oginga, a rival within the party.
Parliamentary insiders say the changes aim to align the opposition’s leadership with ODM’s new direction after its cooperation deal with President Ruto. A senior opposition figure relayed to the Star, “Yes, he is leaving. The pressure is too great.” The source added that Sifuna faces pressure from two fronts: UDA opposes him for not supporting a broad‑based government, while ODM itself feels he has failed to move the party forward.
Sifuna had just received a temporary reprieve from the Political Parties Dispute Tribunal (PPDT) when the tribunal overturned ODM’s removal of him as secretary general, ruling that the party violated natural justice by denying him a fair hearing. The tribunal, however, left open the possibility for ODM to resume disciplinary proceedings under strict due process, a stance welcomed by ODM executive director Oduor Ong’wen.
Earlier, the senator was stripped from the Energy Committee, a key oversight body, and replaced by Homa Bay Senator Moses Kajwang. Unlike other reshuffled senators, Sifuna was not assigned to a new committee, limiting his parliamentary duties to the County Public Accounts Committee and the National Security, Intelligence and Foreign Relations Committee. Senate Majority Leader Aaron Cheruiyot cited routine business committee recommendations as the basis for the changes, though observers see them as a broader strategy to isolate the Nairobi senator.
The move is especially symbolic because the Energy Committee is chaired by Oburu, with whom Sifuna has publicly clashed over ODM’s future direction. Oburu supports the party’s cooperation with Ruto’s administration, while Sifuna remains a vocal critic, insisting ODM should stay firmly in opposition.
“More changes are coming,” Cheruiyot announced, and Senate Minority Leader Stewart Madzayo confirmed that further adjustments to leadership or committees are possible as needed. Madzayo urged members to remain loyal to the legacy of former ODM leader Raila Odinga while addressing current disagreements.
Makueni Senator Dan Maanzo acknowledged ongoing discussions about removing Sifuna from the Deputy Minority Whip post. “He is on his way out,” Maanzo said, noting that Sifuna’s influence extends beyond the whip position.
Sifuna has become the face of resistance against ODM’s partnership with Kenya Kwanza, repeatedly rejecting the pact with President Ruto and refusing to recognize Oburu’s leadership following Raila’s retirement. Instead, he aligns with the Linda Mwananchi faction, which calls for a distinct opposition identity or alliances with other opposition parties before the 2027 general election.
Beyond party politics, Sifuna is known for his outspoken oversight as a member of the Energy Committee, particularly in questioning the controversial Adani Group proposal for expanding Jomo Kenyatta International Airport. His removal from the committee deprives him of a platform to challenge major government projects.
The escalating campaign against Sifuna reflects the widening ideological split within ODM as the party repositions itself before the 2027 elections. Political pundits argue that Sifuna’s fate may test whether dissenting voices can survive within ODM amid its new strategic direction.