A fresh wave of tension is emerging within the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) after Nairobi Senator and party Secretary General Edwin Sifuna declared that he cannot serve under Dr. Oburu Oginga’s leadership, hours after Oburu was affirmed as the new ODM Party Leader at a Special Delegates Conference (SDC).
Oburu, a veteran politician and long-time party trustee, took over the ODM leadership on Saturday, pledging to protect the party’s legacy and steer it into a new phase of coalition-building and organisational renewal.
But even as he outlined a roadmap focused on strengthening grassroots structures and negotiating pre-election alliances, cracks within the party’s top leadership began to surface.
Sifuna, who has served as ODM Secretary General since 2018, openly questioned the legitimacy of continuing in his role under the new leadership structure, signalling a potential standoff that could deepen internal divisions in the opposition party.
Speaking in remarks reported by local media outlets, Sifuna said he would not serve as Secretary General in a leadership arrangement he does not fully recognise, insisting that ODM must strictly follow its internal processes in any transition of top offices.
“I cannot be the SG of Oburu Oginga,” Sifuna said, according to reports, adding that leadership changes must be guided by the party constitution and formal structures, including a properly convened National Delegates Conference.
His remarks came shortly after Oburu’s acceptance speech in which he called for unity, discipline, and strategic rebuilding of ODM ahead of future elections. Oburu said his mandate from delegates was to stabilise the party and engage in negotiations with like-minded political formations to build “win-win pre-coalition arrangements.”
“I stand before you today with a deep sense of humility and a sacred duty to protect the legacy of the Orange Democratic Movement,” Oburu said, adding that his focus would be on strengthening the party’s institutional foundations.
The contrasting statements highlight a widening fault line within ODM as it navigates a post-Raila Odinga era, with competing views emerging over authority, succession, and the legitimacy of internal transitions.
Sifuna’s defiance is particularly significant given his role as Secretary General, a position central to the party’s operations and communication structures. His stance raises questions about whether ODM’s leadership transition will proceed smoothly or trigger deeper organisational disputes.
Political observers say the dispute reflects broader uncertainty within ODM as it attempts to redefine itself following Raila Odinga’s reduced direct involvement in day-to-day political leadership.
While Oburu has emphasised unity and coalition-building, Sifuna’s remarks suggest resistance from sections of the party’s existing leadership who are demanding strict adherence to constitutional processes before accepting new authority structures.
As of publication, ODM leadership had not issued an official response to Sifuna’s statement, leaving the party facing its first major internal test under its new leadership arrangement.
