Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna is set to confront questions over his sudden removal as Secretary General of the Orange Democratic Movement after the party’s top decision-making organ voted to strip him of the role.
The Nairobi Senator announced that he will address journalists on Thursday morning following the decision reached in Mombasa.
Taking to X shortly after the development, Sifuna thanked Kenyans who had reached out to him in the wake of the announcement.
“Following yesterday’s events, I have been overwhelmed by the messages of support and encouragement. I will speak to the press this morning to address some of your concerns. Thank You. God bless,” Sifuna said in a statement.
The resolution to remove him was made during a National Executive Committee meeting chaired by party leader Oburu Oginga. According to the party, the action took effect immediately.
In a communication issued after the meeting, ODM stated that the decision was grounded in the party’s constitution and existing legal framework. The leadership pointed to what it termed increasing cases of indiscipline among senior officials.
"The Party National Executive Committee meeting in Mombasa today has resolved to relieve SG Edwin Sifuna of his responsibilities with immediate effect. Effectively, Hon. Catherine Omanyo, who is one of the Deputy Secretary Generals, will act in this position until a substantive holder of the office is elected," ODM said in a statement.
Catherine Omanyo, who has been serving as Deputy Secretary General, will now hold the position in an acting role pending the election of a substantive office bearer.
The fallout comes after Sifuna openly faulted certain decisions within the party, among them the elevation of Oburu as party leader. Oburu dismissed the criticism, accusing him of mixing personal opinion with official party policy.
The decision has also drawn remarks from members of the Odinga family. Raila Junior posted a message that appeared to encourage resilience, writing, “The finest steel must go through the hottest fire.”
Winnie Odinga also shared her dissatisfaction with the move. “It is not well,” the EALA MP posted on her Facebook page.
Sifuna was born on 22 May 1982 in Kakamega County. He pursued legal studies at the University of Nairobi before proceeding to the Kenya School of Law, later joining active politics.
He won the Nairobi Senate seat in the 2022 general election under the ODM banner. His confirmation as Secretary General came in February 2018 during the party’s National Delegates Convention after internal consultations that followed the exit of Ababu Namwamba.
He had earlier handled the office in an acting capacity around 2016 when it became vacant. In his tenure, he oversaw party administration, coordination and public communication until his removal in February 2026.
All eyes are now on his planned media briefing, where he is expected to respond to the circumstances surrounding his exit and outline his next steps.
