Suba North Member of Parliament Millie Odhiambo has claimed that the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) may have inadvertently strengthened Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna’s political standing by repeatedly targeting him and removing him from the party’s leadership.
Speaking during a TikTok Live session with her followers on Thursday, August 20, 2026, the National Assembly Minority Leader argued that the political pressure directed at Sifuna has worked in his favour by increasing his visibility and expanding his influence beyond the ODM fold.
Odhiambo, who has increasingly been viewed as an independent voice within the ODM leadership, said Sifuna’s political ambitions have now shifted towards seeking the presidency, meaning his influence should no longer be viewed primarily as an internal threat to ODM.
She argued that ODM does not currently have a presidential candidate, while Sifuna is positioning himself for the top seat, effectively moving him into a different political contest.
“I don’t think Sifuna is a threat to ODM because ODM has no presidential candidate and he is going for the presidential candidacy,” Odhiambo said, adding that the party had effectively raised Sifuna’s political profile by placing him in the same conversation as the sitting president.
According to the Suba North legislator, she had previously cautioned ODM leaders against pushing Sifuna out of the party, warning that such a move could have unintended political consequences. She said her concerns were dismissed at the time, with some party officials reportedly believing that the impact of the decision would fade within a short period.
However, Odhiambo now maintains that the opposite has happened, with Sifuna’s political influence continuing to grow months after his differences with the ODM leadership intensified.
She further warned that Sifuna could pose a significant electoral challenge to ODM during the 2027 General Election. According to her, some constituencies and elective positions that have traditionally been viewed as part of ODM’s political strongholds could come under pressure if Sifuna establishes a new political vehicle.
Odhiambo also suggested that Sifuna could attract a sizeable section of Western Kenya’s electorate, an area that has historically provided considerable support to ODM since the party’s formation in 2007.
Her remarks come against the backdrop of an increasingly public dispute between Sifuna and the ODM leadership following his removal from the position of party secretary-general. The disagreement has highlighted growing divisions within the party as political formations begin positioning themselves ahead of the 2027 elections.
