Catherine Omanyo, the acting Secretary General of the Orange Democratic Movement and Busia County Woman Representative, has dismissed claims by Embakasi East MP Babu Owino questioning the legitimacy of the upcoming National Delegates Conference (NDC).
She says the party constitution gives NEC authority to set the date, with NGC ratification, and confirmed it will be held on March 27, 2026.
The dispute follows comments by Babu during a television interview on Sunday, February 22, 2026, where he set conditions for participation in the NDC.
He said members of the Linda Mwananchi faction would only attend if delegates were audited and if the conference was convened by the Secretary General.
“We can only attend the NDC if the delegates are audited one by one and if the NDC is called by the Secretary General, who is Edwin Sifuna. If Sifuna does not call the NDC, then it will not be an NDC. It will be a Kangaroo meeting,” Babu stated.
He further argued that failure to follow procedure would undermine the party’s structure.
“We do not want an NDC that is not procedurally called. We want an NDC called by the Secretary General. None of the office holders followed the procedure to be in office except the SG,” he said.
Babu also questioned the authority of the party’s top organ to appoint Siaya Senator Oburu Odinga as party leader, adding another layer to the internal tensions.
In response, Omanyo rejected suggestions that the upcoming conference lacks legitimacy. She emphasised that the constitution provides a clear framework for convening the NDC, stating that the process begins with a resolution of the NEC and subsequent ratification by the NGC.
According to party rules, the NDC is held once every five years and must take place no later than December 31, of the fifth year, at a venue and time determined by the NEC.
Omanyo said the Secretary General’s role is to issue notice of the meeting, but provisions exist if that does not occur.
“The notice and agenda convening the meeting shall be sent out by the Secretary General, failing which, any other Party official specifically appointed for that purpose by the National Executive Committee at least 21 days before such a date and published on the Party website and in at least one daily English newspaper with wide national circulation,” she stated.
She added that the constitutional provisions ensure continuity even if administrative roles change, arguing that the framework prevents procedural paralysis. Omanyo maintained that the planned March conference complies with the party’s requirements.
The exchange reflects broader divisions within the party, with differing interpretations of constitutional authority at the centre of the debate.
While Babu insists procedural safeguards must be observed, Omanyo maintains that the established organs have the mandate to determine and notify members of the conference.
As the March 27 date approaches, attention is likely to focus on whether the competing factions will reconcile their positions or continue to test the party’s internal mechanisms in public.
The outcome of the dispute may influence not only attendance at the NDC but also the direction of the party’s leadership structures in the coming months.
