The internal fissures within the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) have widened into a chasm with the unceremonious removal of Saboti MP Caleb Amisi from the party’s National Executive Committee (NEC).

Officially, the party cites a constitutional technicality: Amisi cannot hold a national office while serving as the newly elected ODM Chairperson for Trans Nzoia County. However, the timing and context suggest a far more Machiavellian game is afoot. Coming just days before a high-stakes meeting in Mombasa, Amisi’s ouster is being interpreted by insiders as a calculated purge of voices opposed to the party’s deepening ties with President William Ruto’s administration.

The "Betrayal" Narrative

Amisi has not gone quietly. He has framed his removal as a symptom of a party that has lost its soul, accusing the leadership of "betraying" the legacy of Raila Odinga by becoming a junior partner in the government. "You cannot be in government and in opposition at the same time," Amisi has warned, positioning himself as a martyr for the "pure" opposition cause. His removal from the NEC WhatsApp group—a modern-day excommunication—signals that the party machinery is moving to silence dissent.

The letter from ODM Executive Director Oduor Ong'wen was clinical, referencing Article 92 of the party constitution. [...](asc_slot://start-slot-9)Yet, the selective application of rules is what raises eyebrows. Other leaders holding dual roles have seemingly been spared, fueling speculation that Amisi’s real crime was his vocal criticism of the "broad-based" government deal and his alignment with the faction led by Secretary General Edwin Sifuna.

• The Sifuna Connection: Amisi is seen as a key ally of Edwin Sifuna, who is himself under siege. The removal of Amisi strikes a blow to Sifuna’s support base within the NEC, potentially paving the way for the Secretary General’s own removal or isolation in the upcoming Mombasa retreat.
• The Ruto Factor: The shadow of the President looms large over these maneuvers. [...](asc_slot://start-slot-11)With a faction of ODM pushing for closer cooperation with the UDA regime, voices like Amisi’s—who term such cooperation as "selling out"—are becoming inconvenient obstacles to a new political order.

A Party at War with Itself

The Orange party is currently navigating an identity crisis of existential proportions. Is it the vanguard of the opposition, or a shareholder in the government? Amisi’s exit is a clear signal that the pro-government faction, led by the likes of Oburu Oginga, is consolidating power.

For the rank and file in Trans Nzoia and beyond, this boardroom coup looks like a betrayal of the grassroots. Amisi may have lost his NEC seat, but he has gained a platform as the voice of the disenchanted, a role that could make him more dangerous outside the tent than he ever was inside it.