The gloves are off in the battle for the soul of the Orange Democratic Movement. Just hours after being unceremoniously stripped of his powerful Secretary General title, Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna has announced a high-stakes political rally in Kitengela, signaling that he will not go gently into the political night.

In a move that can only be described as a show of force, Sifuna has bypassed the gloom of his dismissal to mobilize his base. The rally, scheduled for this Sunday, February 15, in Kajiado County, is being billed not as a protest, but as a "meet the people" tour. However, the subtext is screamingly loud: Sifuna is testing his popularity outside the protective umbrella of the party structure. His ouster, orchestrated by the ODM National Executive Committee (NEC) in Mombasa on Wednesday, was the culmination of a simmering cold war between the outspoken Senator and the party`s old guard, led by Party Leader Oburu Oginga.

The "Linda Mwananchi" vs. "Linda Ground" War

The crux of Sifuna’s troubles lies in his refusal to toe the line regarding the party`s warming relations with President William Ruto’s administration. While the party establishment has been pushing for a "broad-based" cooperation—a euphemism for a soft coalition—Sifuna has remained a thorn in the flesh, leading the "Linda Mwananchi" faction that insists on maintaining a hardline opposition stance. His dismissal was swift and ruthless, with the NEC citing "misconduct" and "insubordination."

By choosing Kitengela for his comeback, Sifuna is strategically stepping into a cosmopolitan arena that mirrors his Nairobi stronghold. He has invited a cadre of like-minded "rebels" to join him, including Siaya Governor James Orengo, Embakasi East MP Babu Owino, and Vihiga Senator Godfrey Osotsi. This lineup reads like a shadow cabinet of the opposition, a government-in-waiting that is now seemingly in opposition to its own party leadership.

• The Replacement: Busia Woman Representative Catherine Omanyo has been appointed as the acting Secretary General. Her appointment is seen as a move to placate the Western Kenya voting block, but she lacks Sifuna’s national visibility and combative charisma.
• The Risk Factor: If the Kitengela rally flops, Sifuna risks fading into irrelevance. But if it draws a massive crowd, it will send a shockwave through Orange House, proving that the brand "Sifuna" is bigger than the office he held.
• The ODM-UDA Nexus: The purge of Sifuna and his allies (including Saboti MP Caleb Amisi) clears the path for formalizing the ODM-UDA pact, a move that Sifuna has termed a "betrayal" of the electorate.

A New Political Vehicle?

Whispers in the corridors of power suggest that this rally could be the launchpad for a new political outfit or a pressure group designed to hold the government—and the opposition—accountable. Sifuna’s message to his supporters was cryptic yet defiant: "We meet in Kitengela. The journey continues." This "journey" is evidently no longer on the bus driven by Oburu Oginga.

As Sunday approaches, the political temperature in Kajiado is rising. The "Sifuna Factor" has transformed from an internal party headache into a potential national migraine for the established order. The rebel Senator is betting his career on the belief that the ground is shifting, and he intends to be the one causing the tremor.