The Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) is currently navigating one of its most turbulent internal crises in recent history. At the center of the storm is Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna, who remains defiant despite a fierce push from rival factions to strip him of his role as secretary-general.
The friction reached a boiling point after the party’s National Executive Committee (NEC) moved to remove Sifuna from his leadership position. However, that effort hit a legal roadblock when the Political Parties Disputes Tribunal (PPDT) issued a temporary stay, keeping the senator in office, at least for now.
Sifuna Demands Evidence Amid Allegations
Breaking his silence during a television interview on Tuesday, February 24, 2026, Sifuna took a firm stand against his detractors. He argued that the campaign against him lacks both formal substance and documented proof.
“No one has formally told me my mistakes. I need to be shown the accusations. For instance, when they say that your public utterances are contrary to a resolution of the party. You have to demonstrate to me that this is the resolution of the party, and this is the public utterances that go against it,” Sifuna said.
The senator suggested that the accusations are part of a broader attempt to bypass party due process. He specifically pointed to disputed negotiations between ODM and the United Democratic Alliance (UDA), claiming that high-level talks occurred behind closed doors without proper consultation with the party’s rank and file.
Gesturing to the lack of transparency regarding these deals, Sifuna noted, “I have been asking this gentleman to show me this document. This is the first time I’m seeing it.”
A House Divided: Linda Mwananchi vs. Linda Ground
The internal rift has effectively split the party into two distinct ideological camps: Linda Mwananchi, led by Sifuna, which positions itself as the defender of the party’s grassroots integrity.
On the other hand, Linda Ground, led by party leader Oburu Odinga, claims to command the loyalty of the majority of ODM’s elected leadership.
Sifuna dismissed the idea that leadership headcounts determine the soul of the party. He argued that the Linda Mwananchi faction focuses on winning the hearts of the Kenyan electorate rather than simply tallying the number of politicians on their side.
“We have a responsibility to fight for the ODM Party, and I will not evade responsibility, since the party is a part of the people, and it is our responsibility to safeguard it,” Sifuna stated.