Acting Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) Party Leader Oburu Odinga has dismissed reports claiming that Secretary General Edwin Sifuna is on his way out of the party. Speaking on Tuesday, October 28, Oburu described Sifuna as a vital member of ODM who will continue serving in his current role as the party reorganizes following the death of its long-serving leader, Raila Odinga.
Oburu confirmed that he had already spoken with Sifuna after assuming the acting party leadership and received assurances of his full cooperation.
“Sifuna is the one who read out the resolutions of the party after our meeting. I have spoken to him, and he has no problem,” Oburu stated.
The Siaya Senator acknowledged Sifuna’s sometimes fiery nature, especially when criticizing ODM’s partnership with President William Ruto’s United Democratic Alliance (UDA), but emphasized that his actions had not crossed disciplinary lines.
“As a young person, sometimes he can become restless and go a little overboard, but he is with us, and he will stay with us. There is nothing he has done to warrant us removing him from the party,” Oburu said, adding that any disciplinary measures would be handled internally.
His remarks come amid growing calls from a section of ODM members, particularly from the Luo Nyanza region, urging for Sifuna’s removal, accusing him of being divisive. These calls intensified after Raila Odinga’s passing, as Sifuna continued to assert that his political stance and criticism of the government had been sanctioned by the late ODM leader.
In a surprising twist, Nandi Senator Samson Cherargei, a close ally of President Ruto, lauded Sifuna for pledging loyalty to ODM and the broad-based government, saying, “For now, you are forgiven, and your Secretary General position in the ODM Party is secure.”
As ODM navigates its transition period, Oburu’s reassurance underscores an effort to maintain unity and stability within the party ranks.
