ODM confirms Sifuna ouster as NEC ratifies removal

ODM acting Secretary-General Catherine Omanyo has confirmed that the party’s National Executive Committee (NEC) has ratified the removal of Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna as Secretary-General, following the adoption of recommendations by the party’s Internal Dispute Resolution Committee.

Omanyo said the NEC endorsed the disciplinary outcome after considering the committee’s report, insisting the process was conducted within party rules.

“After looking into matters at hand, the meeting resolved that the recommendations of the Internal Dispute Resolution Committee be adopted, and that Senator Edwin Sifuna cease to hold the office of Secretary-General,” she said.

She added that the decision was procedural and grounded in ODM’s internal governance structures, noting that the party would now proceed with normal organisational processes ahead of upcoming internal elections.

Committee chairperson Felix Ogeto defended the process, saying the panel was properly constituted following NEC resolutions made in February 2026 and acted strictly under ODM constitutional provisions.

“The law allowed us to constitute ourselves as this committee under Article 74,” he said.

Ogeto confirmed that Sifuna was formally notified of the allegations against him and repeatedly invited to appear before the committee, including hearings scheduled on April 10 and April 20.

“We granted ample opportunity for the respondent to be heard, and we were prepared to listen to his side of the story,” he said.

He added that at one point, Sifuna’s legal representative, senior counsel Isaac Okero, indicated that he had no instructions to proceed.

“His counsel stated he had no instructions to appear or proceed with the hearing,” Ogeto said.

The committee also addressed concerns over its composition, saying objections raised by Sifuna’s side were considered in its final report.

“Every complaint raised against the panel was addressed within our findings,” Ogeto said.

He further stated that the panel proceeded to conclude the matter after what it termed a sufficient opportunity for defence.

“They simply did not appear, and therefore we had to decide based on what was before us,” he said.

Beyond the leadership dispute, the NEC also addressed the issue of compensation for victims of police brutality during anti-government demonstrations, directing that ODM should be actively involved in the process to ensure transparency and accountability.

“The ODM party should be fully involved in this exercise to ensure transparency, since it is the host of the aggrieved in most cases,” Omanyo said.

She further directed the party’s parliamentary leadership to engage closely with the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights in identifying victims and overseeing the compensation framework.

ODM said the process should be handled expeditiously and with clear documentation to avoid disputes, as attention now shifts to internal reforms and preparations for the National Delegates Convention.