Sifuna Heads to Court After ODM Removes Him as Secretary General

Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna has rejected a decision by the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) to remove him from the position of secretary general, setting the stage for another legal battle within the opposition party.

Sifuna’s allies, operating under the Linda Mwananchi movement, described the move as unconstitutional and a violation of the party’s own rules, arguing that the process used to eject him from office was flawed.

In a statement released on Tuesday, the group said the latest action by the ODM National Executive Committee (NEC) closely resembled a previous attempt to remove Sifuna earlier this year, which was subsequently challenged in court.

According to the statement, the senator consulted his legal team immediately after learning of the decision and resolved to seek judicial intervention.

The team expressed confidence that the courts would overturn the latest decision just as they believe happened with the earlier dispute.

“We have instructed our lawyers to challenge the purported removal in court. We remain convinced that the process did not comply with the party constitution and should not stand,” the statement said.

The fresh standoff has exposed growing tensions within ODM, with rival factions taking opposing positions on whether the party followed due process in disciplining one of its top officials.

Sifuna has consistently maintained that the leadership failed to observe the procedures outlined in the party constitution before deciding to remove him from office.

The ODM NEC announced on Monday that it had endorsed recommendations from the party’s Internal Dispute Resolution Committee, effectively ending Sifuna’s tenure as secretary general.

The decision triggered an immediate backlash from leaders associated with the Linda Mwananchi movement, who gathered at a press briefing in Nairobi to condemn the move and pledge support for the senator.

However, the decision has found backing from senior ODM figures, including Otiende Amollo, who defended the disciplinary process and dismissed claims that Sifuna was denied a fair hearing.

Speaking after the NEC meeting, Amollo said members were presented with a report from the party’s disciplinary structures showing that the senator had been given sufficient opportunity to respond to the allegations against him.

According to the Rarieda lawmaker, Sifuna submitted his response through his legal representatives, a move that the party considered adequate participation in the proceedings.

Amollo insisted that the requirements of procedural fairness had been met and that the disciplinary process complied with the party’s regulations.

The controversy escalated after ODM announced that the NEC had unanimously adopted recommendations contained in the report of the Internal Dispute Resolution Committee.

The resolution was formally communicated by Catherine Omanyo, who stated that the committee’s findings were endorsed under provisions of the party constitution.

The dispute now appears headed for the courts, where judges will be asked to determine whether the party acted within its constitutional mandate or whether Sifuna’s removal violated internal procedures.

Political observers say the case could have significant implications for ODM’s internal governance and party unity at a time when the opposition outfit is navigating growing ideological and leadership differences.

As the legal battle looms, attention is likely to focus on whether the courts uphold the NEC’s decision or once again provide Sifuna with a lifeline in his fight to retain influence within one of Kenya’s largest political parties.