Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna has once again moved to the Political Parties Disputes Tribunal (PPDT), seeking urgent orders to stop his removal as Secretary General of the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM).
In his application, Sifuna wants the tribunal to suspend the implementation of a resolution allegedly passed by ODM’s National Executive Committee (NEC) on February 11, 2026, which sought to oust him over alleged misconduct
Bid to Halt Disciplinary Proceedings
Through his legal team, Sifuna is also seeking orders to halt ongoing disciplinary proceedings stemming from a Notice to Show Cause dated April 2, 2026.
He further wants both ODM and the Registrar of Political Parties barred from publishing or effecting any decision removing him in the Kenya Gazette.
The senator argues that the move to remove him was unlawful and violated constitutional provisions on fair administrative action and political rights.
According to court documents, Sifuna claims he was neither informed of the allegations nor given an opportunity to defend himself before the NEC resolution was made.
He further accuses the party of initiating what he terms a “predetermined disciplinary process,” pointing to the issuance of a show-cause letter alongside a scheduled hearing date as evidence that the outcome had already been decided.
The Nairobi lawmaker also faults the timeline given for his response, arguing that the four-day window over the Easter holiday period was unreasonable and designed to undermine his right to a fair hearing.
Tribunal Jurisdiction Battle Resurfaces
This latest legal move comes after the tribunal previously struck out his initial complaint for lack of jurisdiction, directing parties to exhaust ODM’s Internal Dispute Resolution Mechanisms (IDRM).
However, Sifuna now argues that the internal process has been frustrated and rendered ineffective, prompting his return to the tribunal.
He warns that unless the PPDT intervenes, ODM could proceed with what he describes as an unlawful process and gazette his removal, potentially leading to misuse of public resources.
Sifuna has been directed to respond to the show-cause letter by April 8 and appear before a disciplinary panel on April 10, 2026.
The matter is now expected to be mentioned urgently before the PPDT, with the embattled Secretary General seeking interim orders to preserve his position pending the tribunal’s determination.
About the Author
