The Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) has shaken its very foundations by removing the combative Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna from his powerful role as Secretary General, though he remains a party member.

It is the end of an era for the Orange party's most vocal defender. Edwin Sifuna, the man whose sharp tongue and unyielding loyalty defined ODM's opposition years, has been removed from the Secretary General seat. The decision, ratified by the National Executive Council (NEC), cites "disciplinary concerns" and a need for a strategic reset ahead of the 2027 polls.

However, the party moved quickly to quell rumors of a total fallout. Oburu Oginga, speaking on behalf of the party leadership, clarified, "No one is bigger than ODM. Sifuna has not been expelled. He remains a Senator and a life member. But the engine of the party needs a new driver." This nuanced statement suggests a bitter internal power struggle rather than a simple disciplinary case.

A House Divided?

Sifuna's ouster is widely seen as a casualty of the "Broad-Based Government" deal. His relentless criticism of the Kenya Kwanza administration, even as ODM bigwigs sit in the Cabinet, created an untenable contradiction. Key insiders suggest that Sifuna refused to "tone down" his rhetoric to match the party's new cooperative stance.

• The Charge: Undermining party unity and defying NEC resolutions.
• The Defense: Sifuna claims he is being punished for "speaking truth to power."
• The Future: Speculation is rife that a coast-based politician will take the SG mantle to balance regional equations.

Political analyst Mutahi Ngunyi noted on X (formerly Twitter), "Sifuna forgot the first rule of power: Never outshine the master. The handshake has new owners." As Sifuna retreats to his Senate office, the question remains: Will he quietly toe the line, or will he become the face of a new, splinter opposition? The Orange house is cleaning up, but it might be sweeping away its strongest pillar.