Kenya's Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) is currently gripped by significant internal strife, highlighted by a stern warning issued by a section of its legislators from the Western region. These influential Members of Parliament have threatened to abandon the party if their Secretary General, Edwin Sifuna, is not shielded from what they describe as relentless internal attacks over his uncompromising stance on the President William Ruto-led Kenya Kwanza government.
Speaking passionately during a delegates’ meeting at the Golf Hotel in Kakamega on Friday, the MPs rallied unequivocally behind Sifuna, asserting that he is being unfairly targeted for merely "speaking the truth" about the current administration’s performance and policies. Budalang’i MP Raphael Wanjala minced no words, stating, "We will not sit back and watch Sifuna be sacrificed for telling the truth. If the party cannot protect its Secretary General, then some of us will have to reconsider our position in ODM.” Wanjala emphatically insisted that Sifuna’s criticisms of government excesses are not personal attacks or acts of indiscipline, but rather represent the legitimate and often unspoken official position of the party. "Some people want to silence Sifuna for speaking the truth. We are here to say no, and we stand with him, and any attack on him is an attack on all of us," he added, signaling a strong show of solidarity.
This fierce defence stems from Sifuna's increasingly vocal position, particularly his recent declaration that the supposed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) or "broad-based government" pact between ODM and UDA (Kenya Kwanza) is "dead." Sifuna's reasoning centers on what he perceives as a violation of the agreement's fundamental tenets, citing continued instances of police brutality and a failure by the Kenya Kwanza administration to uphold certain democratic principles. He has unapologetically maintained that his role is not to sugarcoat realities or review a "dead" document, firmly reiterating that the opposition's priority remains holding the government accountable.
Butere MP Tindi Mwale joined the chorus of support, openly defending Sifuna as a "bold, articulate leader" who is simply executing his mandate as the party's chief spokesperson. "Sifuna is our voice and our shield. He speaks truth to power, and that’s what a real Secretary General should do. We will not allow anyone within or outside ODM to bring him down. If the party cannot protect him, then it should not expect our loyalty either,” Mwale cautioned, raising the stakes significantly for the party leadership.
Despite this powerful show of solidarity from a faction of Western ODM legislators, the meeting also exposed underlying divisions. A number of elected leaders from the region, notably prominent ODM members, conspicuously skipped the event entirely. Among those who gave the meeting a wide berth were Kakamega Woman Representative Elsie Muhanda, Matungu MP Oscar Nabulindo, Ikolomani’s Bernard Shinali, Navakholo MP Emmanuel Wangwe, and Lugari MP Nabii Nabwera. Even Lurambi MP Titus Khamala, the official host, made only a brief appearance to welcome the delegation, deliberately avoiding any political commentary before making an early exit without delivering a statement during the proceedings. This notable absence of key figures suggests a nuanced and perhaps fractured loyalty within the regional ODM chapter regarding Sifuna’s aggressive stance and the party’s overall direction.
