- ODM is split over its engagement with the Kenya Kwanza government.
- Makadara MP George Aladwa warns ODM Secretary-General Edwin Sifuna that he risks removal for opposing the party’s evolving stance.
- Aladwa accuses Sifuna of undermining Raila Odinga’s leadership.
- The rift follows President Ruto’s appointment of ODM members to his Cabinet, which Sifuna has fiercely opposed.
- Aladwa hints at a major showdown if Sifuna maintains his stance against the party’s leadership.
The Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) is facing internal strife as disagreements over the party’s stance toward the Kenya Kwanza government escalate.
Speaking in Nairobi on Sunday, Makadara MP George Aladwa issued a stern warning to ODM Secretary-General Edwin Sifuna, cautioning that his continued defiance could lead to his ouster from the party.
Aladwa accused Sifuna of undermining Raila Odinga’s authority, arguing that his persistent criticism of ODM’s engagement with Kenya Kwanza is damaging party unity.
“Sifuna is at liberty to leave ODM and join Rigathi Gachagua if he so wishes. We will meet in 2027 for a political showdown,” Aladwa declared.
A Rift Over Ruto’s Appointments
The fallout within ODM was triggered by President William Ruto’s decision to appoint several ODM members to his Cabinet.
- Aladwa and his allies view the move as a strategic political engagement.
- Sifuna and hardline opposition figures insist that ODM should remain in the opposition, rejecting any cooperation with Ruto’s administration.
Sifuna has dismissed suggestions of aligning with Kenya Kwanza, vowing that ODM will not work with Ruto ahead of the 2027 elections.
Echoes of Ababu Namwamba’s Ouster?
Aladwa likened the tensions to past leadership struggles within ODM, particularly the removal of former Secretary-General Ababu Namwamba in 2016.
He further accused Sifuna of disrespecting party veterans, stating that ODM’s strength lies in collective leadership rather than individual defiance.
Will ODM Survive the Internal Wrangles?
As ODM navigates this internal storm, questions arise over the party’s unity and direction.
- Will Sifuna bow to pressure or stand firm against Kenya Kwanza engagements?
- Can ODM maintain internal cohesion ahead of the 2027 elections?
- Is Raila Odinga’s grip on the party weakening?
With 2027 on the horizon, the battle for control within ODM is heating up—and the stakes have never been higher.
