NAIROBI — The Orange party moves to quell rumors of external interference, insisting the axe fell on its Secretary General solely due to internal indiscipline.

The political tremors following the dramatic removal of Edwin Sifuna from his perch as Secretary General of the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) continue to shake the opposition’s foundation. In a fierce rebuttal to swirling conspiracy theories, the party’s leadership has come out guns blazing to deny that President William Ruto or his UDA machinery pulled the trigger. The narrative of "state capture" of the opposition is one ODM is desperate to kill.

Deputy Party Leader Abduswamad Nassir, flanked by a stone-faced National Executive Committee (NEC), issued a categorical statement at Chungwa House. "This was a decision made by ODM, for ODM," Nassir declared. He dismissed the allegations that instructions were wired from State House to oust the firebrand Senator as "baseless propaganda" meant to sow discord in the rank and file. The official line is simple: Sifuna was not a victim of a plot, but a casualty of his own defiance.

The Sin of Defiance

The rift, however, runs deeper than a simple disciplinary matter. It strikes at the heart of the party`s identity in the post-Raila Odinga era. Sifuna has been the face of the "resistance," a vocal critic of the "broad-based government" deal that saw ODM cooperate with the Ruto administration. His refusal to toe the line—vowing never to support a Ruto re-election bid even if the party demanded it—was seen as insubordination by the pragmatists now holding the reins.

Sifuna’s faction, dubbed "Kenya Moja," argues they are the true custodians of the party’s soul, adhering to what they claim were the founder`s final wishes to prepare for a 2027 battle. But the NEC sees it differently. They view the Nairobi Senator’s freelance radicalism as a threat to the party’s cohesion and its new strategic direction. "You cannot be in the club and break the furniture," one NEC member whispered.

• The Replacement: Catherine Omanyo has been installed as the Acting Secretary General, a move seen as stabilizing the boat while the party organizes a National Delegates Convention.
• The Accusation: Sifuna claims he is being punished for refusing to "sell out" to the government, painting himself as a martyr for the opposition cause.
• The Reality: ODM is struggling to define its role—is it a partner in government or a watchdog? Sifuna’s ouster suggests the former camp is currently winning.

A House Divided

The denial of Ruto`s involvement is crucial for ODM’s survival. Admitting that the President could dictate personnel changes in the opposition party would be a death knell for its credibility. Yet, the perception remains hard to shake. Sifuna was the loudest anti-Ruto voice in the room; his silence benefits the President.

As the dust settles, the Orange party finds itself at a crossroads. It has purged a rebel, but in doing so, it may have alienated a base that thrives on confrontation with the state. The ghost of the "Handshake" politics haunts Chungwa House, and Edwin Sifuna is just the latest exorcism.

For now, the party insists it is master of its own destiny. But with Sifuna on the outside looking in, the question remains: Is ODM clearing the deck for a fight in 2027, or for a merger?