By Anderson Ojwang
The rubber is finally meeting the road after the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) wing of party leader Oburu Oginga wrote a show cause letter to the Secretary General Edwin Sifuna.
The move comes hot on the heels of Sifuna recently declaring that he cannot be Secretary General under Oburu Oginga and terming him as mediocre.
Oburu and other party leaders, including the National Chairperson Gladys Wanga, were confirmed as officials by the delegates, in what the Sifuna wing of Linda Mwananchi termed illegal and unconstitutional.
Yesterday, Wanga wrote to Sifuna and shared the letter on ODM social media handles, captioned “Notice to show cause.”
Wanga said the NEC meeting of February 11, 2026, resolved to initiate proceedings for Sifuna’s removal over alleged gross misconduct.
The charges include contradiction of party position, persistent public contradiction of party resolutions, further contradictory statements, and establishment of parallel and unsanctioned political initiatives.
Other charges are failure to attend and participate in party meetings, and conduct prejudicial to the party.
“You are hereby required to show cause, in writing, within four days from the date hereof, and in any event not later than close of business on Wednesday, 8th April 2026, as to why disciplinary action should not be taken against you. Upon receipt and consideration of your response, you will appear before a constituted panel appointed by the NEC, in accordance with the party’s internal dispute resolution mechanism, for hearing and determination of this matter at 10.00 am, a venue to be communicated in due course,” Wanga wrote.
Sifuna has already released the political schedule of the Linda Mwananchi group and is expected in Nakuru town on April 9.
Recently, the NEC sacked Sifuna as Secretary General and spokesperson and replaced him with Busia Woman Representative Catherine Omanyo.
The move followed a protracted battle between the Oburu Oginga faction and Sifuna over the pre-election coalition pact with President William Ruto’s United Democratic Alliance (UDA).
In a statement by ODM, it read:
“The Party National Executive Committee meeting in Mombasa today has resolved to relieve Secretary General Edwin Sifuna of his responsibilities with immediate effect. Effectively, Catherine Omanyo, who is one of the Deputy Secretaries General, will act in this position until a substantive holder of the office is elected,” read the statement.
But Sifuna dismissed his sacking as unconstitutional and moved to the Political Parties Disputes Tribunal, which gave him a reprieve.
A besieged Oburu, in an earlier statement, said ODM was a members’ club and those in it must abide by the rules of membership.
“The minority will have their say, but the majority will have their way, and so those with dissenting voices must respect the wishes of the majority. Democracy must be guided,” he said.
After the alleged sacking, and in solidarity with Sifuna, the daughter of former party leader, the late Raila Odinga, EALA MP Winnie Odinga wrote, “It is not well,” and joined Sifuna, Babu Owino, James Orengo, and Geoffrey Osotsi at a press conference.
The Political Parties Disputes Tribunal (PPDT) issued interim orders stopping any attempt to remove Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna from his role as Secretary General of ODM, effectively maintaining the status quo as the dispute proceeds.
In fresh directions, the tribunal ruled that the conservatory orders will remain in force and scheduled the matter for highlighting of written submissions on March 12, 2026.
The panel cautioned that no steps should be taken to implement the contested decision pending the hearing and determination of the case.
Ida Odinga’s appeal for dialogue and not to destroy the party in order to preserve Raila’s legacy seems to have gone unheeded.
“It is my wish that we can preserve the party in his honor as a matter of service to our country. I want to appeal to those Baba left in the leadership of the party to reflect deeply and sincerely on his dreams for the party and for our country,” she said.
The fear that had been expressed over self-cannibalism in the party is now a reality, as the two factions are unlikely to back down any time soon after Orengo claimed the party had been sold to President Ruto.
Orengo said they will fight to retain the party and the legacy of Raila, the founding party leader.
A section of ODM legislators, alarmed by the internal wrangles, requested Oburu to convene an urgent party meeting to contain the situation.
The MPs, led by ODM Vice National Chairman Otiende Amollo, said the wrangles in the party were worrying and a betrayal to the founding party leader, the late Raila Odinga.
They said ODM was the largest party in the country and expressed concern over the spectacle of self-cannibalization that has been witnessed recently.
“It is testament to how much we miss the wisdom and iconic leadership of our departed Rt Hon Raila Odinga that divisive rhetoric has taken over our politics without restraint,” read the statement.
Earlier, Sifuna dismissed any attempts to remove him, saying the party leadership had no capacity to eject him.
Sifuna said the plot to remove him was a result of his opposition to a move by a section of party officials and members to support President William Ruto’s second term.
As the battle rages on, will ODM survive to reach Canaan, or will it collapse under the weight of internal divisions?
