AJUOK: Sifuna removal drama: ODM author of its own political misfortunes

A new episode of the soap opera involving the removal of ODM secretary general Edwin Sifuna was unleashed on Monday this week, when the party’s NEC announced that pursuant to the Political Parties Dispute Tribunal ruling, it had moved to conclude the process of sacking the SG. But even the NEC did not seem to believe that it was really the end of the drama.

These days, a press conference called by the broad-based faction of ODM reminds me of a flock of sheep near a stream, torn between crossing it and turning to walk back.

A keen look shows a group of people no longer sure about which part of whatever they have just read out to the public, or are about to announce, really makes sense. The confusion is so solid you can almost touch it.

It is actually possible for the party to conduct a legal and credible process to remove the secretary general and have the decision properly grounded in law.

In fact, given how long the “Sifuna Must Go” movement in the party has been at it, this would have been concluded quite a while back, as far away as when the party’s enigmatic leader, Raila Odinga, was still alive. That’s how long the faction has been trying to get rid of Sifuna.

But the anti-Sifuna forces are devoid of strategy, lacking in patience and beholden to the political short-cuts and bad manners largely associated with their new benefactors, President William Ruto and his UDA ruling class.

The ODM constitution sets out the processes of election and removal of national officials. Article 72(2) expressly states that before removal, every individual shall be provided an opportunity to defend himself against all allegations.

It is so far evident that the Oburu-Wanga faction of the party, which supports Ruto’s re-election in 2027, is not entirely comfortable with having Sifuna brought in to defend himself, because the purported allegations against him do not have legs and would not stand the test of scrutiny.

No sane judge or legal body would consider “refusing to help us support Ruto’s re-election” a clever ground for the removal of a senior party official.

The desperation to remove Sifuna, complete with gaffes and fumbles, confirms the critical role played by the secretary general in any large political party. A prolonged crisis in that position leaves the party dysfunctional and stagnated in many areas, even as the 2027 election draws closer.

Sensibly, therefore, the leadership of the ODM desires a quick resolution that would install a yes-man who can align with their hurried and often poorly thought-out and poorly executed plans.

However, the hurry to complete the process is also the cause of the long-delayed drama. And it does not begin with just the Sifuna issue.

Even though those in the party who want the secretary general gone have been making these noises since before Raila’s death, it is upon the latter’s demise that the true picture of impunity within its ranks emerged.

Even though there was no real cause for the acceleration of Raila’s replacement, a hurriedly convened meeting, mere hours after the iconic leader’s passing, installed his brother, Oburu Oginga, as acting party leader.

Article 15 of the ODM constitution sets out the procedure for the election of national officials, which is done at the National Delegates Convention.

Questions were raised about the manner in which the March 2026 Special Delegates Convention was convened, but even worse, that it “ratified” the appointment of Oburu as party leader, rather than conducting the election itself. The management by short-cuts and guesswork was certainly on course.

In the months subsequent to the NDC, the secretary general issue has become a sticking point. There have been moments when it appeared everyone was content to let politics run on autopilot until the next electoral cycle, then suddenly, a notice appears calling for a hurried NEC or Central Management Committee meeting, where the matter is resurrected.

In between, there have even been bizarre reports suggesting that sections of the party are pushing for reconciliation with the rebellious Sifuna faction.

Over the course of this political soap opera, none less than ODM’s own Minority Whip in the National Assembly, Suba North MP Millie Odhiambo, has told the party that it created the Sifuna phenomenon and turned the Nairobi senator into a political lion, when it went full throttle and turned all party organs into Sifuna persecution units.

Presumably, the lessons have not been learnt, because the more the public perception remains that the party’s secretary general is being persecuted for his principles, the wider his public appeal grows.

I do not imagine that Senator Sifuna is desperate to remain ODM secretary general. If you ask me, he may in fact be in that political space where he needs to unshackle from the ODM prison and begin to make his own 2027 moves without the burden of the party on his shoulders.

We can easily acknowledge that Raila’s party is now a full captive of the Ruto state and may be impossible to save in time to make a meaningful impact in the 2027 general election.

But it is obvious that the city senator also does not fancy his removal being done using rogue methods that serve the interests of the small cabal in the party that is presumed to serve the interests of State House.

At a certain level, he probably enjoys the nuisance value that comes with pushing the party to do the right thing, not just for the benefit of the membership, but to safeguard the positions of even some officials of the party who currently cheer his persecution.

Because, truth be told, if it’s easy for two or three party top dogs to meet over grilled goat ribs and unceremoniously remove the secretary general on a whim, the template will be applicable on anyone they do not fancy, including the loudest “Sifuna Must Go” choir members.

At the time of filing this piece, Sifuna's lawyers had not filed a response to ODM’s latest announcement removing him. But it would be foolish to imagine that after the PPDT ruled that Sifuna was not accorded a fair hearing during the party’s purported disciplinary process, followed by a quick “removal” just three days later by the party, that his legal team would let this go unchallenged.

Predictably, therefore, we are just settling down to a new season of this Sifuna series. Political commentators will certainly be doing the mental calculations on who between the party and its SG is losing the most the longer this matter drags on.

For Sifuna, persecution is earning him huge points and growing his profile across the country, not just as the man who stood up to the new ODM bullies, but also the perceived real dog owner, Ruto.

As for ODM, the legal challenge continues to erode its ability to settle down to proper internal functions and to prepare for the general election.

It has the choice of restarting the process and removing Sifuna properly, including, according to him, a fair hearing via the party’s disciplinary organs, seeking mediation or holding onto the arrogant path of short-cuts, which will be met by more and more legal quagmires.

Sometimes I even suspect that the party’s sponsors inside State House want it exactly in this position of crisis and stagnation, because it makes it easier to manipulate, but what do I know? In all, ODM is the author of its own misfortunes, by the way it has handled this issue, and there will be very few tears shed for it if these Sifuna removal shenanigans end up costing it heavily in next year’s election.

The writer is a political commentator