Africa-Press – Kenya. A fresh storm is brewing within the ODM party after Embakasi East MP Babu Owino expressed opposition to the removal of Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna as Secretary General, describing the decision as unlawful and signalling a political effort to challenge it.
Addressing the press in Nairobi on Thursday, a day after the ODM National Executive Committee (NEC) resolved to remove Sifuna from the administrative position, Owino criticised the decision and questioned whether party leaders adhered to the party constitution.
“I want to state that the removal of Sifuna from office is not taken lightly by this team, and I want to condemn the leaders who made this decision,” Owino said.
Sifuna was not present during the NEC event, which was held in Mombasa.
During his presser in Nairobi, he was accompanied by a section of leaders, including Siaya Governor James Orengo, Vihiga Senator Godfrey Osotsi, and Winnie Odinga.
The lawmaker challenged the legitimacy of the NEC meeting in Mombasa, describing it as irregular and lacking due process.
“We know what Baba stood for. Baba stood for justice, Baba stood for fair hearing and trial. The meeting that took place in Mombasa was irregular. That meeting was set up to remove the current Secretary General of ODM, Edwin Sifuna, from office,” he claimed.
Owino also criticised some party leaders, saying they had not adhered to the principles they pledged to uphold.
“These leaders were seen at one point in Mombasa taking a sacred oath to uphold and protect the party constitution, the same constitution that they are now not following. There was no proper procedure that was followed,” he said.
He argued that the decision lacked organisational legitimacy, alleging that the process used to remove Sifuna was flawed.
“There is no way that office holders can remove the Secretary General from office without following the law and the party constitution,” he added.
The MP defended Sifuna, saying his actions reflect advocacy for ordinary Kenyans and policies addressing the country’s economic challenges.
“The only mistake Sifuna committed, and the only mistake we are committing, is to fight for the downtrodden, to fight for the forgotten in this society, to fight for the less privileged in Kenya, to fight for jobs for our youth and to speak against the high cost of living,” Owino said.
In a strongly worded statement, Owino suggested that the dispute could trigger a prolonged political confrontation within the party.
“I want to assure you that we are going to fight. The war has been declared. A line has been drawn. If you are on our side, you are on our side. If you are on the other side, then fight on the other side. But this is not going to stop anytime soon,” he said.
The remarks come amid divisions within ODM following the NEC’s decision to remove Sifuna and appoint Deputy Secretary General Catherine Omanyo in an acting capacity pending the election of a substantive office holder.
The unfolding standoff is expected to test the party’s internal dispute resolution mechanisms as competing factions dig in over the leadership changes.
