The Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) is gearing up for a high-stakes National Delegates Convention (NDC) in October, a meeting that could reshape the party’s 2027 political roadmap and potentially end Edwin Sifuna’s tenure as Secretary General.
The NDC, announced last month, will bring together party delegates to consider reports from party organs, review policy positions, and elect national officials. However, political insiders suggest that it may also serve as a platform to censure or replace Sifuna, who has increasingly found himself at odds with the party’s top leadership.
Tensions have been mounting within ODM over Sifuna’s combative stance against a budding political alliance between ODM leader Raila Odinga and President William Ruto. The two leaders have recently signaled a 2027 coalition, unveiling measures such as a compensation framework for victims of police brutality and forming teams to fast-track the ODM–UDA Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) and implement the NADCO report initiatives largely driven by Raila’s allies.
Sifuna, however, has publicly dismissed the deal, questioning its transparency and impact. In a recent television interview, he declared the pact “dead,” citing continued police abuses, including the June 8 death of blogger and teacher Albert Ojwang in police custody. He has vowed to resign as SG if ODM supports Ruto’s re-election bid.
This defiance has won him praise from some grassroots supporters but angered party loyalists. Homa Bay Town MP Peter Kaluma has openly called for his resignation or removal, accusing him of spreading confusion. Alego Usonga MP Sam Atandi also dismissed Sifuna’s indispensability, quipping that other capable spokespeople, such as Nyando MP Jared Okello, could take over.
ODM’s Central Committee, in its July 15 meeting, confirmed the October NDC, with elections for national officials high on the agenda. Party insiders believe this could mark the beginning of a succession process for the influential SG position.
Whether the October convention will seal Sifuna’s fate remains to be seen. But one thing is clear the battle over the party’s political direction ahead of 2027 is now as much about personalities as it is about policy.
