The Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) used its official powers to remove Edwin Sifuna from his position as Secretary General while designating Catherine Omanyo to serve as the party’s interim leader until a permanent administrative head is chosen.
A National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting took place on Wednesday in Mombasa, which resulted in the party losing one of its main public representatives.
The NEC reached a decision, which took effect right away, to dismiss Sifuna from his responsibilities, according to party officials. The situation developed after several weeks of rising conflict between ODM factions, which fought for leadership control following the death of the party’s founder.
The official statement did not disclose the specific reasons behind the dismissal, but insiders from the party confirmed that Sifuna’s leadership style has created major tactical and fundamental ideological conflicts with senior party members.
Catherine Omanyo, who serves as one of ODM’s deputy secretaries general, received her appointment as acting secretary general to manage the party’s administrative work until they elect a new permanent secretary general. The unexpected change in leadership has created major disruptions across Kenya’s opposition parties, which are getting ready for the upcoming 2027 electoral campaign.
Sifuna has dedicated his time to the party as a Nairobi senator who has been active in the party since its founding. Critics have charged him with taking positions that conflict with the established ODM position on national politics and political alliances.
The party members had begun to push for his removal because they wanted to see new leadership emerge at the upcoming party conventions. His dismissal from the position would intensify current factional disputes and lead to party members switching their political allegiances, according to political observers.
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