Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna has questioned the manner in which Oburu Odinga assumed leadership of the Orange Democratic Movement, arguing that the party’s constitution was not followed and that only a properly convened National Delegates Convention can elect a substantive party leader.
Speaking on NTV on Tuesday, Sifuna maintained that the arrangements made after the death of Raila Odinga were meant to hold the party together for a short period, not to settle the leadership question permanently. He said the party constitution is clear on how a leader should be chosen and warned that skipping that process risks deepening confusion within the party.
“When you offer yourself for that position, you should be prepared to act in that position in the event that the party leader is unavailable. My expectation would have been that the three of the deputy party leaders would have said, ‘Let us act for the month of January, you act for the month of February, then you act for the month of March, and in March you call an NDC,’” he said.
Sifuna described the moment news of Raila’s death reached him as shocking and painful, saying the party was thrown into mourning without warning. “You wake up one morning and there’s a message… and I remember I was dressed in orange because we had an activation for biometric. We divert the cold way, we go to Mama’s house, and there… we find ourselves in State House because the announcement has to be made by the head of state. I didn’t understand why it had to be the head of state to make that announcement,” he recounted.
According to the senator, while members were still coming to terms with the loss, some leaders proceeded with meetings and decisions without wider consultation. He said he was not present in the discussions where the leadership decision was made and would have raised concerns had he been there.
“While we are going through all these emotions, the people are meeting somewhere… I wasn’t present in that meeting. If I was, I would have told them that the Constitution of ODM clearly states that the party leader must be elected at a National Delegates Convention,” Sifuna said.
He insisted that only party members, through a National Delegates Convention, can grant a leader a clear mandate. In his view, any other path leaves room for disputes and weakens the party’s standing.
“The leadership of the party can only now be resolved by the membership of the party… The confusion will not end if you have a one-term party leader and two deputies. Once that mandate is given, then the rest of us can make our own decisions going forward,” he said.
Sifuna also underlined that the party is a shared institution built over many years through sacrifice and commitment from its supporters across the country. He warned against actions that could undermine its foundation at a time when unity is most needed.
“Political parties are encouraged to exist and grow… I would not want an institution that has taken us so long to make with tears and deaths die… the party belongs to all of us. You have invested in ODM; therefore, you have a stake in it,” Sifuna added.
He closed by urging strict respect for the party constitution, saying adherence to laid down procedures is the only way to secure stability, restore trust among members, and safeguard the future of the Orange Democratic Movement.
