A defiant show of force in Kajiado County signals a deepening rift within the Orange Democratic Movement as the ousted Secretary General tests his political mettle against the party's old guard.

The gloves are officially off. Just days after his unceremonious removal as Secretary General of the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM), Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna has taken his battle for the party's soul to the streets, staging a massive, charged rally in Kitengela this Sunday.

This was not merely a church service; it was a political statement etched in defiance. Flanked by a cadre of loyalist "rebel" MPs and chanting supporters, Sifuna's presence in Kajiado County serves as a direct challenge to the party's National Executive Committee (NEC) and the established hierarchy led by Oburu Oginga.

The "Sifuna Factor" Unleashed

The narrative of a "quiet exit" has been shattered. Sifuna, known for his abrasive eloquence, is leveraging his ouster to cultivate a distinct brand—the "Sifuna Factor"—that positions him as the voice of a restless younger generation against an entrenched status quo. By choosing Kitengela, a cosmopolitan hub, he is testing his independent mobilization power outside the traditional party structures.

Observers note that this move mirrors historical schisms in Kenyan politics, where expulsion often precedes the formation of formidable splinter factions. "We are not going gently into the night," a close ally was overheard saying, signaling that the Mombasa NEC decision may have ignited a fire rather than extinguished one.

A Party at a Crossroads

• The Trigger: Sifuna's removal by the NEC in Mombasa earlier this week.
• The Response: A "Meet the People" tour that functions as a de facto rebellion tour.
• The Stakes: Control over the ODM's future direction and its relationship with the current government.

The standoff presents a precarious dilemma for the ODM leadership. Crushing the dissent could alienate the youth demographic Sifuna commands, while ignoring it risks signaling weakness. As the dust settles in Kitengela, one thing is clear: the battle lines for the 2027 cycle are already being drawn, and the first shots have been fired from within.

"The ground is shifting," Sifuna declared to the roaring crowd, "and we intend to be the ones causing the tremor."