Edwin Sifuna arrived at the Orange Democratic Movement headquarters this week facing the fight of his political life. By Wednesday afternoon, he had secured a lifeline.
The Political Parties Disputes Tribunal (PPDT) has stopped attempts by ODM’s National Executive Committee (NEC) to remove him as Secretary General, dealing a swift blow to party leaders who had moved to push him out.
According to the orders that where issued today, the Tribunal halted the implementation of a resolution passed by the NEC a day earlier seeking Sifuna’s removal. It also barred the party from publishing that resolution in the Kenya Gazette , a formal step that would have made his ouster official.
The orders will remain in place until the case is heard fully, with both sides given the chance to argue their positions.
For now, Senator Sifuna stays in office.
“This is a victory for due process,” a senior official in Sifuna’s camp said shortly after the ruling, declining to be named because of the sensitivity of the dispute. “Party decisions must follow the law and the party constitution.”
The NEC had announced on February 11 that it had resolved to remove Senator Sifuna from his post, a powerful role that places him at the center of ODM’s operations. The decision triggered immediate backlash from some quarters within the party, with allies describing it as irregular and politically driven.
Those pushing for his exit argue that the NEC acted within its mandate. One member of the committee, who supported the resolution, said the move was about “restoring order and discipline” within the party ranks. “No individual is bigger than the party,” the official said.
The dispute has exposed fresh tensions within ODM, one of Kenya’s largest opposition parties. Founded by Raila Odinga, the party has long been a dominant force in national politics. But like many political outfits, it has grappled with internal divisions, especially as the country’s political landscape shifts.
Legal experts say the Tribunal’s intervention underscores the role of formal dispute mechanisms in party politics. Under Kenyan law, the PPDT has authority to hear and determine disputes arising within political parties. Its decision to block the gazettement is significant, as publication in the Kenya Gazette would have given legal effect to the NEC’s resolution.
By freezing both the implementation and publication of the decision, the Tribunal has effectively preserved the status quo.
Still, this is only the opening chapter. The matter will now proceed to a full hearing, where ODM officials and Sifuna are expected to lay out their arguments in detail.
For Senator Sifuna, the ruling offers breathing space. For ODM, it signals a battle that is far from over.
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