- ODM leader Oburu Odinga has publicly rebuked Secretary General Edwin Sifuna over claims questioning his leadership
- Oburu accused Sifuna of mixing personal opinion with party policy and emphasized that all officials are legally endorsed
- The feud reflects deep divisions over ODM’s political direction amid coalition talks with the ruling UDA party
TUKO.co.ke journalist Harry Ivan Mboto has over three years of experience reporting on politics and current affairs in Kenya
Siaya senator and party leader Oburu Odinga has publicly rebuked Secretary General Edwin Sifuna over recent claims during an interview with Citizen TV.
Source: UGC
In a strongly worded letter on Friday, February 6, Oburu accused Sifuna of creating confusion among party members by blurring the line between personal opinion and official ODM policy.
The senator described the secretary general’s assertions about his leadership as contradictory and emphasised that no individual is above the party.
Search option is now available at TUKO! Feel free to search the content on topics/people you enjoy reading about in the top right corner 😉
Has Sifuna blurred personal opinions and ODM policy?
“In recent months, the secretary general has occasionally struggled to distinguish between his personal opinions and the official party policy as determined by our constitutionally mandated organs,” Oburu said.
“This has, understandably, created confusion among members and supporters. ODM policy is not shaped by individual preference; it is the product of structured deliberation through properly constituted party organs,” the letter added.
The ODM leader responded to Sifuna’s claims that some party officials hold positions illegally, stressing that all serve legitimately and are backed by party resolutions.
Oburu also pointed out that Sifuna had previously served as secretary general without apparent challenge from the party.
How was Sifuna elected as ODM secretary general?
According to Oburu, the secretary general was elected by the National Governing Council (NGC) in February 2018 and fully executed his duties until February 2022, when the National Delegates Convention (NDC) subsequently endorsed him.
He suggested that Sifuna’s recent questioning of party leadership legitimacy was inconsistent with his own past experience.
“When Sifuna questioned the legality of some national officials on the basis that they were elected by the NGC, he overlooked a fundamental fact: he himself was elected secretary general by the same organ in February 2018 and discharged the functions of that office fully and effectively until February 2022 when NDC endorsed him. One cannot selectively invalidate the very processes that conferred legitimacy upon oneself,” Oburu said.
Despite the sharp public exchange, Oburu did not specify whether any disciplinary action would be taken against Sifuna.
The party appears increasingly divided between members who share the Sifuna’s view that ODM should assert an independent political course, and those advocating for a coalition or understanding with the ruling United Democratic Alliance (UDA) party ahead of the 2027 General Election.
Source: Facebook
Will Sifuna resign from ODM?
Sifuna, however, has maintained that he will not resign from his position, asserting that his membership in ODM remains intact.
Speaking during the TV interview, he said the only way he could be removed as secretary general would be through a delegates’ conference, which he believes is necessary to provide clear direction for the party amid ongoing internal wrangles.
The dispute gained further dimension when Oburu’s sister, Kisumu Woman Representative Ruth Odinga, weighed in.
She defended Sifuna, arguing that his actions should not be seen as rebellion, drawing parallels with the late Raila Odinga’s political strategy.
Source: TUKO.co.ke
