The Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) currently battles internal conflicts, which have reached a critical point when a major faction from Oburu Oginga’s party leadership now seeks to remove Edwin Sifuna from his position as Secretary-General through a Mombasa meeting scheduled for this week.
The political sources who report this information indicate that the current situation will begin what is expected to become a violent struggle for control, which will destroy Kenya’s primary opposition party before the upcoming 2027 general elections.
The effort to remove Sifuna from his position as Nairobi Senator has gained support among senior party officials who disapprove of his direct criticism against ODM’s leadership transition and operational plans. Internal sources indicate that Oburu’s camp is backing the appointment of Suna East MP Junet Mohamed Otuoma as the new secretary-general, a move that would drastically reconfigure the party’s command structure if successful.
The ODM plot originated from major conflicts between party members who supported the party’s current election strategy and those who wanted to change their national political position after Raila Odinga died. Sifuna has previously criticized how Oburu assumed interim leadership, saying it did not adhere strictly to party constitutional procedures—a stance that has irked Oburu allies and heightened factional tensions.
The upcoming Mombasa meeting has created an environment where participants consider it a decisive juncture. The party will face major operational changes because Sifuna’s removal from his position as secretary-general will create far-reaching effects throughout its local branches and funding sources.
The observers start to worry that the Oburu and Sifuna factions will compete openly, which will destroy party unity while pushing away essential voting groups (youth and urban supporters) and harming ODM’s chances for victory during next year’s elections.
Opposition figures have increasingly voiced concern that ODM’s internal strife is weakening its ability to present a coherent alternative to the ruling government. Some party activists argue that the leadership battle could prompt defections or encourage rival alliances if not resolved swiftly and transparently.
The Mombasa meeting, which started as a normal executive meeting, has developed into a critical moment in ODM’s historical development. The party’s ability to resolve its internal conflicts or slide deeper into factional disputes will depend on the next few days because both sides have established their positions, and both parties have high stakes in the situation.
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