Major Setback for Edwin Sifuna as Tribunal Strikes Out Petition for ODM Secretary-General Reinstatement
In a significant development within Kenya’s political landscape, the Political Parties Disputes Tribunal (PPDT) on March 26, 2026, struck out a petition filed by Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna seeking his reinstatement as Secretary-General of the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM).
The ruling came after the ODM’s National Executive Committee (NEC), chaired by Dr. Oburu Oginga, resolved on February 11, 2026, in Mombasa to remove Sifuna from the position over alleged concerns about discipline and cohesion in the party’s senior leadership. Catherine Omanyo, the ODM Deputy Secretary-General and Busia Woman Representative, was immediately installed as acting Secretary-General pending the election of a substantive holder.
Sifuna had moved swiftly to the tribunal the day after his removal, securing temporary orders that halted the implementation of the NEC resolution and barred its publication in the Kenya Gazette. However, ODM raised a preliminary objection, arguing that the matter was premature because Sifuna had not exhausted the party’s internal dispute resolution mechanisms as required under the Political Parties Act. The tribunal agreed, ruling that it lacked jurisdiction over what it deemed an internal party governance issue. It directed all parties—including Sifuna and ODM—to resolve the dispute in good faith through the party’s internal alternative dispute resolution mechanism (ADRM), while emphasizing that the removal should not yet be formalized with the Registrar of Political Parties.
The decision marks a blow to Sifuna’s immediate efforts to reclaim the influential post and has intensified debates within ODM ranks, with some allies describing the ouster as irregular and politically motivated. While the tribunal’s orders preserve space for internal dialogue without prejudicing ODM’s right to conduct disciplinary processes in line with its constitution, the episode underscores ongoing tensions in the party as it navigates leadership dynamics and broader coalitions. Observers note that the outcome could shape future internal reforms and influence how ODM positions itself ahead of upcoming political cycles, highlighting the delicate balance between party discipline and individual rights in Kenya’s multiparty democracy.
