Edwin Sifuna Claims ODM Removed Him from Party WhatsApp Group After Kitale Tour

NAIROBI, Kenya – Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna has claimed that the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) removed him and his allies from the party’s leadership WhatsApp group following their political tour of Kitale, saying the move confirms that the party leadership has sidelined them.

Sifuna made the remarks as tensions continue to rise between him and the ODM leadership. He argued that recent developments within the party point to a deliberate effort to push him and his allies out of key leadership positions.

Sifuna Alleges Fresh Changes in Senate Committees

According to the Nairobi senator, ODM leaders have initiated further changes to Senate committee leadership.

He claimed a motion had been introduced to remove Vihiga Senator Godfrey Osotsi as Chairperson of the County Public Investments Committee.

Sifuna also said the party plans to remove him from the County Public Accounts Committee and reassign him to the Fisheries Committee.

However, the senator insisted he does not view the new assignment as a punishment.

“It is clear that those in the ODM leadership are done with us. There is a motion that was brought to the Senate to effect further changes to remove Senator Osotsi as the chair of the County Public Investments Committee. They’re going to remove me from the County Public Accounts Committee. They’re sending me to the Fisheries Committee, which they think is a punishment. But I actually need to learn about agriculture and fisheries and the blue economy because of the coming assignments,” Sifuna said.

‘They Kicked Us Out’

Sifuna further claimed that party officials removed him and his allies from the ODM leadership WhatsApp group shortly after they completed their rally in Kitale.

He dismissed claims that he had voluntarily left the party.

“After we finished our rally in Kitale, I just saw us being removed from the ODM WhatsApp group. It is not me who is leaving; they kicked us out,” he said.

Senator Says He Tried to Defend ODM

Sifuna maintained that he had remained loyal to ODM despite the growing internal disagreements.

He said he had honoured a promise made to his political mentor not to destabilise the party. However, he argued that other leaders had frustrated efforts to preserve unity.

“We have tried to fight for the soul of the ODM party, but we are getting dangerously close to the elections, and it’s clear that our colleagues in the party have no time for us. I have kept my promise to my boss not to wreck his party. He has seen that it is they who have come after us. They have stripped us of all the things he gave us,” he said.

The senator also claimed that attempts to resolve the dispute through dialogue had failed because agreements reached during discussions were later overturned.

Focus Shifts to Linda Mwananchi Movement

Despite the fallout, Sifuna said he and his allies would now concentrate on building the Linda Mwananchi Movement ahead of the 2027 General Election.

He said the movement had received overwhelming support from Kenyans and that its leaders could not afford to dwell on recent political setbacks.

“We are getting into the election period proper. The belief, trust and expectation that has been placed upon us in Linda Mwananchi does not allow us to mourn for too long for the things that we have lost. Our responsibility is to get organised so that we do not let these people down and focus on the future,” Sifuna said.

Rift with ODM Deepens

Sifuna’s latest remarks add to the widening rift between the Nairobi senator and the ODM leadership.

The dispute follows his removal from senior party and Senate leadership positions and comes amid growing speculation about his political future as he continues to champion the Linda Mwananchi Movement ahead of the 2027 elections.