INDISCIPLINED SIFUNA - OBURU

A fast-developing fallout within the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) has now erupted into a full-blown internal confrontation, with Siaya Senator Oburu Oginga sharply criticizing Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna over what he terms as indiscipline and open defiance of party leadership.

The clash comes in the wake of deepening divisions inside ODM following the emergence of rival factions after the death of longtime party leader Raila Odinga.

Speaking during an interview aired on Sunday, April 19, Oburu questioned Sifuna’s position within the party, pointing to what he described as a contradiction in both tone and conduct.
“Then why is he fighting to be reinstated as secretary general to a person he claims is mediocre?” Oburu posed, referencing Sifuna’s earlier remarks dismissing ODM leadership.

A seemingly enraged Oburu doubled down into dismissing Sifuna as "not disciplined" by terming his party's leadership as mediocre.
“We can’t have young people who are not disciplined… he calls me mediocre, yet he wants to be my secretary general,” he said .

He accused Sifuna of repeatedly sidestepping party structures—organising parallel activities when ODM convenes official ones, and skipping key meetings such as the Central Management Committee despite being invited.
“When the party organises NDC, he comes with a parallel one. When we organise meetings, he does not attend… he is invited, but he chooses not to come,” Oburu stated.

He added pointedly, “He is not a pope to be begged,” underscoring the party’s decision to take disciplinary action.

Despite the tough stance, Oburu clarified that the party has not expelled Sifuna or other affected leaders, including Vihiga Senator Godfrey Osotsi. Instead, the move has been to remove them from leadership roles while retaining their membership.

According to him, the decision is meant to reinforce party order and send a clear message that no individual is above ODM’s structures.
“How can they hold leadership positions while contradicting decisions made at the top?” he asked.

Acting Secretary General Catherine Omanyo echoed that position, maintaining that respect for the party leader and constitution remains binding on all members.

The Senator for Siaya further dismissed claims that ODM’s internal divisions were part of a broader political design by the late party leader. Lawyer Paul Mwangi had suggested that the party’s current split reflects a calculated strategy by Raila Odinga—creating both a cooperative and a resistant faction.

In that framing, Sifuna’s wing represented a fallback position should political alliances fail, including cooperation with President William Ruto.

But Oburu dismissed the assertion outright.
“I don’t know Paul Mwangi in politics; I only know him as Raila’s lawyer… I don’t think that is accurate,” he said, insisting he would have been aware of such a plan.

Oburu further claimed that tensions between Sifuna and Raila had already surfaced before the former prime minister’s death.
He alleged that Sifuna organised youths in Kakamega who chanted slogans that embarrassed Raila during a public event—an incident he said left the ODM leader unhappy.
“Raila was not happy with what Sifuna was doing… he had no option but to stand up and say Sifuna had his democratic right,” Oburu said.

As it stands, ODM is at a crossroads, with the anti–broad-based pact aligned to the Linda Mwananchi faction, while the Oburu-led Linda Ground faction backs the broad-based arrangement.
The political temperature ahead of 2027 is expected to significantly shape shifts on either side. These dynamics have deepened internal divisions, with each faction confident of forming or being part of government after the 2027 elections.
The question remains: will Linda Mwananchi or Linda Ground emerge victorious?