The war for the soul of the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) has turned ugly. Nairobi Senator and ODM Secretary General Edwin Sifuna has sensationally claimed that a faction within the party is resorting to mafia-style tactics, sending threats to church leaders to block him from accessing pulpits in Nairobi.

The allegations, made during a heated roadside rally in Kibra, expose the deepening cracks in the party following the death of Raila Odinga. Sifuna, who is positioning himself as the youthful face of the new leadership, accused "old guard" insiders of panicking and using intimidation to stifle his growing influence.

"They Fear the Truth"

"There are people in this party who think they own the certificate," Sifuna shouted to a cheering crowd. "They are calling bishops and pastors, telling them, 'Do not allow Sifuna to speak.' Since when did ODM become a party that fears the church? If you have a problem with me, face me at Orange House, don't harass God's servants."

While Sifuna did not name names, his arrows were clearly aimed at the faction allied to the older generation of Nyanza leaders, who view his aggressive brand of Nairobi politics as a threat to their traditional dominance.

• The Tactics: Sifuna alleges that anonymous calls and text messages were sent to clergy in Kawangware and Mathare, warning of "chaos" if he attended service.
• The Split: The party is currently divided into two main camps: the "Restoration" wing led by Sifuna and younger MPs, and the "Legacy" wing led by Oburu Oginga and the old guard.
• The Context: With Ida Odinga accepting a government job, the party lacks a central unifying figure, creating a vacuum that is being filled by vicious infighting.

A House Divided

Political analyst Professor Herman Manyora warns that these threats mark a dangerous escalation. "When a party starts fighting the church, it is the beginning of the end," he observes. "Sifuna is trying to rally the Nairobi base, but the Nyanza aristocracy will not let go without a fight."

As the 2027 polls loom, ODM looks less like a government-in-waiting and more like a crime scene. If the Secretary General himself cannot attend church without threats from his own colleagues, the Orange party may be rotting from the inside out.