The Siaya Governor has read the riot act to ODM saboteurs, warning that sacrificing the firebrand Secretary General Edwin Sifuna is a suicide mission that will bury the Orange party before 2027.

Siaya Governor James Orengo, a veteran of Kenya’s political trenches, has drawn a line in the sand. Speaking during a charged church service in Kawangware, Dagoretti North, Orengo fiercely defended ODM Secretary General Edwin Sifuna against a growing internal insurrection. His message was stark and apocalyptic: "Remove Sifuna, and you kill ODM."

The Enemy Within

The Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) is facing a crisis of identity. With Raila Odinga's transition to continental politics, vultures are circling the party's leadership structures. A faction of "rebel" members, allegedly compromised by state operatives, has been plotting to oust the Nairobi Senator from the Secretary General's perch. They view Sifuna’s abrasive, no-nonsense style as a hurdle to their "cooperation" with the ruling regime.

Orengo, however, sees Sifuna as the party’s heartbeat. "Sifuna is the firewall," Orengo declared, his voice echoing through the congregation. "He is the only one fearless enough to speak truth to power. If we allow these merchants of betrayal to push him out, we are finished."

The 2027 Calculation

The defense of Sifuna is not just about loyalty; it is about survival. Orengo emphasized that ODM must field its own presidential candidate in the 2027 General Election. To do that, the party needs a wartime general, not a diplomat. Sifuna, with his sharp tongue and legal mind, fits the profile of the general needed to rally the base.

• The Betrayal: Orengo accused unnamed party members of seeking to "sell the party" for personal gain, warning them that history judges traitors harshly.
• The Unity Call: The presence of Sifuna and other leaders at the service was a show of force, designed to demonstrate that the party’s core remains intact despite the noise.

The Walking Dead?

As the wrangles intensify, the question remains: Can ODM survive without Raila's daily micromanagement? Orengo believes it can, but only if it keeps its fighters on the front line. Sifuna is safe for now, but in the treacherous waters of Kenyan politics, today's hero is often tomorrow's scapegoat.