Africa-Press – Kenya. Narok Senator Ledama Olekina has declared his readiness to take up the powerful Secretary General position in the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM).
This is as the party intensifies disciplinary proceedings against current office holder Edwin Sifuna.
Speaking during an interview with Nairobi Review, Olekina dismissed reports that he had been formally proposed for the role, but made it clear that he would not hesitate to step in if given the opportunity.
“When asked if it is true that I am being proposed for the post of Secretary General, it is not true,” Olekina said. “But I would be interested in any position.”
He, however, singled out the Secretary General role as one he believes he is best suited to handle, citing his commitment and service to the party.
“But the position that I know that I can serve very well is the position of Secretary General,” he said. “It is because I have given my all to the ODM party.”
His remarks come at a time when ODM has initiated formal proceedings to remove Sifuna from the influential post, accusing him of gross misconduct, disobedience of party rules, and advancing positions contrary to official party decisions.
Sifuna has been faulted for publicly contradicting ODM’s stance on the controversial “broad-based” political arrangement, as well as participating in unsanctioned initiatives such as the “Linda Mwananchi” movement.
He has since been served with a show-cause letter and directed to appear before a disciplinary panel, with a deadline set for April 8, 2026.
The current process follows an earlier attempt by the party’s National Executive Council (NEC) to remove him in February 2026, a move that sparked a legal battle at the Political Parties Dispute Tribunal and forced ODM to initiate a fresh, formal disciplinary procedure.
Amid the unfolding dispute, Olekina also weighed in on the debate surrounding regional balancing within party leadership, strongly dismissing suggestions that the Secretary General position should automatically go to a candidate from Western Kenya should Sifuna be removed.
“The notion that if you drop somebody from, let’s say, Western, you have to replace them with somebody from that region is nonsense,” he said. “That is mediocrity; we have to deal with the issue of meritocracy.”
The outspoken senator criticised what he termed as Kenya’s persistent fixation with ethnic considerations in leadership decisions, arguing that ODM should remain a national party guided by competence rather than regional identity.
“We are the same nation. Why do we fall back to our tribal cocoons and say he was a Maasai so replace him with a Maasai?” he posed.
Olekina further maintained that party membership should be voluntary and not driven by ethnic loyalties, adding that those dissatisfied with ODM’s direction are free to leave.
