The Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) is a house on fire. The unceremonious ouster of the firebrand Secretary General Edwin Sifuna has ignited a fierce civil war in the party’s Western Kenya stronghold, pitting Kakamega Governor Fernandes Barasa against his own Members of County Assembly (MCAs).

In a move that threatens to fracture the party's unity, Governor Barasa has thrown his weight behind the National Executive Committee’s (NEC) decision to axe Sifuna. Speaking from the county headquarters, Barasa termed the removal "the right decision," signaling a ruthless consolidation of power by the party's old guard. But on the ground, the grassroots are in open rebellion.

The Grassroots Revolt

A defiant faction of Kakamega MCAs, led by Lumakanda ward representative Bernard Mulama, has declared war on the Governor’s stance. "We will not be silenced," Mulama thundered, flanked by nominated MCA Lilian Osiema. The legislators accuse Barasa of betraying the party's youthful base and siding with "political brokers" who engineered Sifuna's downfall.

The rift exposes deep fault lines within the party. Sifuna, known for his combative eloquence and loyalty to the party base, is viewed by the MCAs as a martyr of internal power plays. By celebrating his exit, Barasa risks alienating the very foot soldiers he needs to govern. The MCAs have threatened mass protests, promising to turn the streets of Kakamega into a theatre of resistance if Sifuna is not reinstated.

• The Legal Battlefield: Sifuna is not going quietly. The Nairobi Senator has vowed to challenge his removal in court, dismissing the NEC's decision as a "kangaroo process" devoid of legal merit. His defiance sets the stage for a protracted legal and political drama.
• Loyalty Test: Barasa sought to calm nerves by pledging loyalty to party supremo Raila Odinga and Oburu Oginga, but his comments have only poured fuel on the fire. The MCAs see his alignment with the ouster as a calculated move to clip the wings of rising stars in the party.

A Party at a Crossroads

The chaos in Kakamega is a microcosm of the wider turbulence rocking ODM. As the party struggles to redefine itself, the clash between the establishment (represented by Barasa) and the agitators (represented by Sifuna’s defenders) threatens to derail its momentum. For now, the "Mulembe Nation" is divided, and the Orange party looks less like a movement and more like a battleground.

Governor Barasa may have won the battle for the microphone today, but with threats of protests looming and a restless assembly, the war for the soul of the party in Kakamega has only just begun.