We're loading the full news article for you. This includes the article content, images, author information, and related articles.
ODM Secretary General Edwin Sifuna declares Oburu Oginga’s interim leadership null and void, citing constitutional violations and igniting a fierce generational battle for the soul of the party.
The simmering cold war within the Orange Democratic Movement has erupted into open conflict. In a daring move that threatens to split the opposition party, Secretary General Edwin Sifuna has declared the installation of Oburu Oginga as interim party leader "constitutionally null and void," throwing the succession plan into chaos.
The installation of Oburu Oginga, the elder brother of the late party patriarch, was intended to stabilize the ship, but it has instead punched a hole in its hull. Sifuna’s challenge is not merely procedural; it is a calculated rebellion against the "dynastic entitlement" that many younger legislators believe is suffocating the party’s future. By citing specific clauses of the ODM constitution that were allegedly bypassed, Sifuna has framed this not as a power grab, but as a defense of the rule of law within a party that champions democracy.
Speaking from Nairobi, Sifuna dismantled the legitimacy of the interim leadership with surgical precision. He argued that the National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting that ratified Oburu’s position was convened without the requisite notice period and lacked a quorum of elected delegates. "We cannot preach democracy to the nation while practicing autocracy at Orange House," Sifuna asserted, drawing a line in the sand that separates the "Old Guard" from the "Young Turks."
The specific violations cited include:
This legalistic battle masks a deeper, more visceral struggle for the soul of ODM. On one side stands the "Oburu Faction," supported by party stalwarts like Junet Mohamed, who view the Odinga family as the necessary glue to hold the coalition together. On the other lies the "Sifuna Axis," backed by ambitious governors and second-term MPs who believe the party must evolve beyond a single family to survive the 2027 General Election.
Political analysts warn that this rift could be fatal. If Sifuna carries through with his threat to seek legal arbitration, the party could enter the election cycle paralyzed by court orders. The silence of the Azimio coalition partners, who are watching this implosion with keen interest, suggests that the fallout will extend far beyond Orange House. The risk is not just a change of guard, but the disintegration of Kenya's most formidable opposition machine.
Sifuna’s gamble is high-stakes. If he fails, he faces expulsion and political oblivion. If he succeeds, he could redefine the opposition landscape. "The era of coronation is over," Sifuna declared in his closing remarks. "The era of competition has begun." As the dust settles, the party faithful are left wondering whether ODM can survive its own internal democracy, or if the orange is finally being peeled from the inside out.
Keep the conversation in one place—threads here stay linked to the story and in the forums.
Sign in to start a discussion
Start a conversation about this story and keep it linked here.
Other hot threads
E-sports and Gaming Community in Kenya
Active 9 months ago
The Role of Technology in Modern Agriculture (AgriTech)
Active 9 months ago
Popular Recreational Activities Across Counties
Active 9 months ago
Investing in Youth Sports Development Programs
Active 9 months ago
Key figures and persons of interest featured in this article