The Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) is currently a house divided. Since the passing of its patriarch, Raila Odinga, in late 2025, the party has struggled to reconcile its revolutionary roots with its newfound proximity to power.
On one side sits the “Old Guard,” led by Oburu Odinga, who recently moved to oust Sifuna as Secretary General during a heated National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting in Mombasa on February 11, 2026. This faction leans toward a “broad-based” cooperation with President William Ruto, eyeing stability and government resources.
On the other side is the “Generation Next” camp. Sifuna, flanked by Siaya Governor James Orengo and Embakasi East MP Babu Owino, has framed this struggle as a fight for the soul of the opposition. To them, the “Linda Mwananchi” (Protect the Citizen) movement is a rejection of the ODM-UDA arrangement.
“Surrender is not an option,” Sifuna declared following his ouster, which he has since challenged in the courts. “This is not about positions. It is about principle.”
A Rise Forged in Friction
Sifuna’s rising profile is an anomaly in Kenyan politics, where leaders usually rise by seeking the blessing of an ethnic kingpin. Instead, Sifuna has mobilized across ethnic lines, appealing to a disillusioned urban youth demographic.
Analysts like Herman Manyora note that both the government and the opposition are now “unsettled” by Sifuna’s trajectory. He isn’t just following the script; he’s rewriting it. But as the Kitengela rally proved, being a “disruptor” comes with a high cost—two people reportedly died and dozens were injured as the rally was broken up by security forces.
The Three-Way Crossroads
Going for the Presidential Bid will mean cementing his status as the primary voice of the “Gen Z” and urban vote.Splitting the opposition further and facing the immense financial might of incumbents. With his position in ODM hanging by a judicial thread, Sifuna faces a choice that will define the 2027 electoral cycle:
Joining the “United Opposition” (Gachagua/Wamalwa) Strategic alliance with Rigathi Gachagua and Eugene Wamalwa to create a formidable anti-Ruto front. Will be a possible alienation of his base who may view an alliance with Gachagua as ideologically inconsistent.
 Deputizing Ruto means bringing his youth appeal to the “Broad-Based” government to influence policy from within. Will mean losing his “firebrand” credibility and being branded an opportunist by the very youth he commands.
However, the ghost of Kenyan political history looms large. Many have stood where Sifuna stands—at the peak of a populist wave—only to be swallowed by the machinery of entrenched interests. For ODM, the question is whether it can survive without its Secretary General’s fire. For Sifuna, the question is whether he can build a fire of his own that is hot enough to burn through the old alliances of 2026.
The legal battle over Edwin Sifuna’s tenure as Secretary General of the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) has moved from the political podium to the courtroom, following a dramatic series of events in early February 2026. On February 11, the party’s National Executive Committee (NEC) convened a high-stakes meeting in Mombasa, where they resolved to remove Sifuna from office with immediate effect, citing “grave concerns” over indiscipline and conduct. The faction led by interim party leader Oburu Odinga swiftly moved to appoint Busia Woman Representative Catherine Omanyo as the acting Secretary General. However, the move was met with immediate resistance from Sifuna, who argues that the process was a “travesty of justice” and a violation of the party’s own constitution. He maintains that he was neither served with a notice to show cause nor given an opportunity to defend himself against any specific allegations, a requirement under Article 74 of the ODM Constitution.
The dispute quickly escalated to the Political Parties Disputes Tribunal (PPDT), which handed Sifuna a significant temporary victory on February 12, 2026. Acting Chairperson Gad Gathu certified Sifuna’s application as urgent and issued orders staying the implementation of the NEC resolution. This injunction effectively froze the party’s decision to oust him and, crucially, barred the Registrar of Political Parties from gazetting the change in leadership—a legal step that would have formalized his exit.
The tribunal’s intervention has created a “leadership duality” within the party; while Oburu Odinga insists that Omanyo is the party’s chosen administrator, the law currently recognizes Sifuna as the holder of the office. Sifuna has characterized his ouster as a political hit job orchestrated by those who wish to align the party with the ruling United Democratic Alliance (UDA), a shift he has vocally criticized.
As it stands, the ODM leadership is locked in a waiting game. The PPDT has scheduled a mention for February 26, 2026, to confirm whether the party has complied with the orders and to set a timeline for a full hearing. In the meantime, the party has announced a National Delegates Convention (NDC) for March 27, where they intend to ratify leadership changes and chart a new strategic direction.
Sifuna’s legal team is expected to argue that any such ratification would be in contempt of court if the tribunal has not yet delivered a final verdict. This legal impasse not only threatens to paralyze the party’s administrative functions but also deepens the internal rift, as grassroots supporters are forced to choose between the institutional authority of the “Odinga faction” and the legal legitimacy of the “Sifuna faction.