Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna has announced his refusal to serve as Secretary General under Oburu Odinga’s leadership, highlighting escalating tensions within the ODM party.
During a parallel National Delegates Conference at Ufungamano House, Sifuna directly informed party leader Oburu Odinga that he would not accept the Secretary General position under his administration.
Oburu, who succeeded his brother Raila Odinga, was officially confirmed as party leader on March 27 during a Special Delegates Conference at Jamhuri Grounds.
“Oburu, find your own SG. Following Baba Raila Odinga, you simply don’t deserve my loyalty!” Sifuna declared.
His comments drew enthusiastic approval from supporters of the Sifuna-aligned group.
The rebellious faction, which also comprises Embakasi East MP Babu Owino, clarified that while they honor Oburu Odinga as an elder, they do not acknowledge him as their leader.
“We recognize Oburu Odinga as a respected elder but not as our leader,” the stated the parliamentarian.
Both contend that recent decisions and the party’s trajectory have eroded their trust in its leadership, especially concerning partnerships with the current government via the broad-based coalition.
The party, however, remains under Oburu Odinga’s authority, who has called on dissidents to prove their political standing within party channels rather than publicly contradicting resolutions approved through official mechanisms.
Addressing mainstream faction members at the NDC, Oburu remarked:
“One cannot serve as party leader, convene meetings of any party body, and then afterward reject what the majority has decided by criticizing it and contradicting the official positions established through proper party channels.”
The declarations from both camps reveal the deepening divisions within ODM, which over recent months has developed two separate factions.
The Oburu-led contingent, known as Linda Ground, asserts that the party’s course, particularly its broad-based collaboration with the current administration, represents the appropriate path.
Conversely, the Linda Mwananchi faction headed by Sifuna has openly criticized this strategy, claiming it jeopardizes the party’s autonomy.
The simultaneous NDCs conducted on Friday represented the latest expression of these conflicts, with each group striving to establish legitimacy and mobilize backing from party members.
While Sifuna and Owino’s camp prioritizes grassroots participation and internal party changes, Oburu’s faction demands strict adherence to party regulations and collective decision-making through established bodies.
Their positions indicate that the party’s internal conflicts remain unresolved, and the competition for leadership authority within ODM will likely persist as a dominant concern in the coming months.