The Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) internal conflict has reached a critical point because Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi has declared his intention to remove Edwin Sifuna from his position as Secretary General.
The remarks of Mbadi, which he delivered on Wednesday in Nairobi, show that one of Kenya’s oldest political parties is experiencing its most serious leadership crisis before national elections, which will happen within two years.
The power struggle between ODM factions who back their temporary leader Oburu Oginga and supporters of Sifuna, who has stayed in his position since the request for his exit started, shows no signs of ending. At a gathering of senior party executives, Mbadi stopped short of naming additional targets but made clear that “discipline and unity” would guide the party’s path forward, hinting at further upheavals.
The structural changes at our organization will lead to disciplinary actions against any leader who works against ODM’s goal of achieving unity, according to Mbadi. The current disciplinary actions, which Mbadi established as vital to protect party unity for upcoming national elections. The current faction seeks to replace Sifuna with leaders from the Oburu camp, according to analysts who interpreted his comments as backing their effort.
Political observers say Mbadi’s backing of disciplinary action represents an extraordinary breach of internal party norms, as serving government officials typically refrain from overt partisanship in opposition party disputes. The Cabinet Secretary’s involvement has already sparked criticism from Sifuna loyalists who argue that government figures should not influence ODM’s internal affairs.
Sifuna, who serves as Nairobi Senator, has remained dedicated to his party leadership because he refuses to accept his removal from office. His supporters argue that any attempt to remove him from power without proper procedures will damage ODM’s grassroots support while driving away important voter groups.
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