What Sifuna's Ouster Means For ODM, Ruto And 2027 Elections

By Guest Writer

The Orange Democratic Movement has removed Secretary General Edwin Sifuna with immediate effect, marking a watershed moment in Kenya’s opposition politics ahead of the 2027 elections.

The decision, announced Wednesday after a National Executive Committee meeting in Mombasa, signals ODM’s definitive pivot toward President William Ruto’s administration and away from its traditional opposition stance.

Busia Woman Representative Catherine Omanyo will serve as acting Secretary General until the party’s National Delegates Convention scheduled for March 27, consolidating the pro-government faction’s firm control.

The NEC cited “grave concern over rising levels of indiscipline” within senior leadership, though insiders acknowledge the real battle was over ODM’s increasingly close relationship with the ruling UDA.

Sifuna had become the most vocal critic of the broad-based government arrangement, leading a rival “Linda Mwananchi” tour that directly challenged party leader Oburu Oginga’s openly pro-Ruto stance.

His removal follows sustained pressure from National Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi, who publicly demanded his ouster, drawing comparisons to former Secretary General Ababu Namwamba’s eventual expulsion from the party.

For ODM, Sifuna’s exit represents the first major leadership casualty since founding leader Raila Odinga’s death in October last year, removing a key obstacle to formalizing a pre-election coalition.

The party simultaneously resolved to initiate formal withdrawal from the Azimio la Umoja coalition, citing sustained violations of the founding agreement by partners including former President Uhuru Kenyatta’s faction.

Political analyst Masibo Lumala warns that Sifuna’s removal could trigger mass defections once 2027 election fever intensifies, particularly affecting ODM’s support base among Luhya and urban voters across Kenya.

The decision has already exposed deep fractures within the party. Siaya Governor James Orengo had previously cautioned that pushing out Sifuna could destabilize ODM’s cohesion and undermine internal unity.

Sifuna’s Linda Mwananchi faction, including Deputy Party Leader Godfrey Osotsi, Embakasi East MP Babu Owino, and Kisii Senator Richard Onyonka, has vowed to continue holding grassroots rallies nationwide.

For UDA and President Ruto, the development clears a major hurdle toward a formal pre-election pact with ODM, significantly strengthening his 2027 re-election machinery and expanding his coalition base.

However, the move could also energize opposition forces. Former President Kenyatta’s attempts to revive Azimio around Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka gain renewed legitimacy without facing ODM’s powerful internal opposition.

Political commentator Fred Ogola suggests the changes might be part of a broader United Opposition 2027 strategy against Ruto, despite the President’s recent dismissive remarks about Azimio’s viability.

The removal of Sifuna fundamentally alters Kenya’s political landscape. ODM transforms from opposition anchor to government partner, while disaffected members must choose between conforming to the new direction or departing.

For the 2027 election, this creates a potential three-way contest: a Ruto-ODM alliance, a revived Azimio coalition under Kalonzo, and possibly independent candidates emerging from ODM’s displaced faction.

Sifuna himself appears unbowed, announcing another Linda Mwananchi rally in Kitengela this Sunday alongside key allies, signalling his firm intention to remain politically active despite losing his official position.

The coming weeks will reveal whether ODM’s National Delegates Convention ratifies this new direction or whether sustained internal dissent forces a reckoning over the party’s fundamental identity and future.