Sifuna launches fresh battle for ODM job in confusing game plan

The senator is simultaneously being linked to plans to launch a new political outfit.

He has written to the Registrar of Political Parties contesting his removal insisting that the move did not follow due process.

Sifuna's decision to simultaneously fight for his ODM office while preparing for a possible exit has created confusion over his ultimate political strategy.

Some analysts argue that retaining the secretary general position will give him greater political leverage, while others believe the legal challenge is aimed at protecting his political standing and exposing alleged procedural flaws before any eventual departure.

Mombasa-based political analyst Maimuna Mwidau said Sifuna is fighting a losing battle and the earlier he moves on the better.

“Being a lawyer I don’t know why he is complaining because it is not just ORPP acting on its own, I am very sure it is a legal process taking place,” Maimuna told the Star on phone.

“It is incumbent upon him to move on because he cant work with them, he needs to move on and build his party.”

In a protest note to the Office of the Registrar of Political Parties, Sifuna through his lawyer Isaac Okero insisted his removal was unlawful and demanded that it be reversed.

“Our client reads mischief in your letter of the 9^th instant and the hasty conclusion of Section 20(1) processes,” the letter dated July 9 reads.

“We further note that your effecting of a change in the party records omits the necessary processes of Section 20(2) of the Political Parties Act, rendering your action ultra vires for which our client shall seek appropriate relief.”

Section 20(2) of the Political Parties Act compels a political party to publish the notification of the intended changes in at least one daily newspaper with nationwide circulation.

The same notification must also be published on the political party's official website.

The requirement is meant to promote transparency, public awareness, and give interested parties an opportunity to know about proposed changes before they are effected.

 Registrar of Political Parties (ORPP) John Lorionokou on Thursday wrote to Sifuna saying the office has recognised his removal as the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) secretary general.

Lorionokou noted that the removal process complied with both the Political Parties Act and the party's constitution.

In a signed letter, the registrar said the decision followed a review of documents submitted by ODM as well as the absence of a response from Sifuna regarding the matter.

The office considered correspondence relating to the powers of the party's National Executive Committee (NEC) to establish committees and determine their terms of reference before reaching its decision.

"Upon review of the documents submitted by the party and the lack of response from Sifuna, we note that the removal of the party secretary general was in line with the Political Parties Act, Cap. 7D, and the ODM party constitution," the letter states.

Lorionokou said the office had effected the changes and updated the party's official records to reflect its current leadership, effectively recognising the NEC's decision for the purposes of the official register.

According to the letter, the determination was made after the registrar examined the documents submitted by ODM and found that the process met the legal requirements under the Political Parties Act and the party's constitution.

ORPP said Sifuna did not respond to the allegations levelled against him by the party, a position the senator refuted

Through his lawyers, Sifuna argues that he responded to the registrar's notice within the stipulated timelines using the office's official email address and therefore the changes should not have been effected before his objections were considered.

He has questioned the speed with which the registrar processed the changes, saying due process was not followed.

“We are instructed that this letter was delivered to him via an email address ‘[email protected]’ which appears nowhere on your official letterheads which bear the email address ‘[email protected]’,” Sifuna said in the letter to ORPP.

“It is to the latter address ‘[email protected]’ that our client’s responses dated the 30th June 2026 and 2nd July 2026 were dispatched at 15:57hrs and 17:15hrs respectively (copies of the responses and dispatch emails are annexed hereto).”

“This is the same address to which service of process for Nairobi PPDT No. E017 of 2017 was dispatched, to which process your advocates responded by entering appearance for the ORPP.”

The development, comes against the backdrop of Sifuna's increasingly strained relationship with the ODM leadership under party leader Oburu Oginga.

In recent weeks, the outspoken senator has openly declared that he cannot continue serving under Oburu's leadership, accusing the new party hierarchy of abandoning ODM's traditional opposition role.

His Linda Mwananchi movement has intensified grassroots mobilisation across the country, with several MPs allied to the faction signalling their willingness to leave ODM should a new political vehicle be unveiled.

“A party that will be used as our vehicle will be unveiled soon,” Vihiga Senator Godffrey Osotsi said.

Sources within the faction have indicated that the team is considering adopting an existing political party, citing the limited time available before the 2027 general election that makes it difficult to register a new political party.