The Political Parties Disputes Tribunal (PPDT) will rule on March 26, 2026, on a case filed by Edwin Sifuna challenging his removal as Secretary-General of the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM).
Sifuna’s legal challenge comes after the party’s National Executive Council (NEC) decided earlier this year to oust him from the key leadership position.
The NEC cited alleged misconduct and breaches of internal party rules as grounds for the decision. However, Sifuna argues that the Council acted outside the party’s constitution and violated safeguards provided under the Political Parties Act.
Through his lawyers, Sifuna told the Tribunal that the process leading to his removal was neither transparent nor lawful.
“The decision to remove the claimant from office was reached without adherence to the party constitution and without affording him a fair hearing,” his legal team stated during proceedings. “Such a move undermines the democratic principles that govern political parties.”
ODM’s legal representatives, however, urged the Tribunal to dismiss the case, saying Sifuna had approached it before exhausting the party’s internal dispute resolution mechanisms.
“The claimant bypassed the internal party processes provided for under the constitution of the party. The Tribunal should therefore decline jurisdiction at this stage,” the party’s lawyers argued.
Earlier, the Tribunal issued temporary orders preventing the NEC’s decision from being enforced. The directives also barred the Office of the Registrar of Political Parties (ORPP) from registering any changes to the Secretary-General position until the matter is conclusively determined. These conservatory measures allowed Sifuna to continue holding his office while the Tribunal examines the legality of the NEC’s actions.
“The interim orders were necessary to preserve the status quo and allow the Tribunal to fully interrogate the issues raised by the parties,” the Tribunal noted in a prior session.
With hearings concluded, all eyes are now on March 26 when the Tribunal will determine whether the NEC acted within its authority and followed due process before attempting to remove Sifuna from one of the most influential positions in ODM.