On Saturday, February 14, the daily newspapers focused on the growing tension within ODM and the Odinga family, even as various reports highlighted new security fears that have posed a threat to President William Ruto.
Source: UGC
1. Weeked Star
According to this newspaper, new details have emerged about a private meeting between senior ODM officials that prepared the conditions for the removal of Edwin Sifuna in the position of general secretary.
The meeting, held at the residence of the treasurer of the party, Timothy Bosire, Karen, was reportedly called as a last minute attempt to reconcile the warring factions ahead of the National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting of the decision.
Sources claim that tension increased, with Sifuna and the Member of Parliament for Suna East, Junet Mohamed, almost starting to fight during a heated exchange.
Analysts say Junet confronted Sifuna about his frequent attacks on President William Ruto, accusing him of undermining the party’s broader strategy.
Sifuna allegedly responded angrily, reviving allegations that Junet mishandled resources meant for Azimio’s presidential agents during the last election, an allegation the lawmaker has previously denied.
Instead, Junet has blamed the retired president Uhuru Kenyatta for allegedly distributing funds outside the official structures of ODM.
Those who attended the meeting were party leader, Oburu Oginga, Bosire, deputy party leader, Godfrey Osotsi, Junet and Sifuna. However, Bosire dismissed reports of any dispute, calling them exaggerated and insisting that the discussions were friendly. Junet also denied any conflict.
Osotsi later confirmed the Karen meeting, describing it as part of the mediation efforts initiated by Oburu to calm internal disputes. He expressed surprise that despite promises of further consultation, the NEC continued to remove Sifuna.
In an open statement, Osotsi urged party members to resist what he called President Ruto’s attempts to “hostilely take over” ODM, hinting that the conflict may not be over.
2. The Saturday Standard
According to the publication, the ongoing succession politics within ODM has spread to the late Raila Odinga’s family, revealing sharp ideological divisions that now threaten the future of the party and the unity of one of Kenya’s most influential political dynasties.
The center of the storm is ODM party leader Oburu Oginga, who has been leading the party towards a possible political deal with President William Ruto’s UDA.
Backed by allies within ODM and UDA factions, Oburu seems keen to chart a new course. However, his approach has unsettled Raila’s closest members, with the split becoming increasingly public.
Observers say that the push to reunite with the White House has increased distrust within the family, with some suggesting that outside political pressure may be exacerbating the tension.
Communications consultant Barrack Muluka claims Oburu and his allies are chasing power at the expense of Raila’s long-standing political values.
The result became clear after the removal of the secretary general Edwin Sifuna, a move that was later annulled by the Court of Political Parties.
Raila’s widow, Ida Odinga, openly questioned the decision, defending Sifuna and encouraging talks about the expulsion of MPs.
He compared the situation to family members being evicted from their homes, stressing that conflicts should be resolved internally.
“Edwin Sifuna is the SG of the party. He is Raila’s son. He is not going anywhere. If your father is dead, should the children be kicked out of the house? If you have disagreements in the house, people should sit down and resolve it. He is not going anywhere,” said Ida.
Raila’s daughter, Winnie, also criticized the course of the party, describing the conflicts as a battle for ODM’s soul.
He recalled the times when his father made personal sacrifices to protect the unity of the party, warning against abandoning that legacy.
3. Saturday Nation
The newspaper reports that President William Ruto’s security is under intense scrutiny following repeated breaches of the law that allowed the public to get unduly close to the Head of State.
The audit conducted by senior officers, the results of which will be presented to the Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja on February 16, aims to assess weaknesses and recommend reforms.
The review comes after two recent incidents, in Mombasa on February 6 and Wajir on February 13, where individuals penetrated the presidential security perimeter.
In both cases, Ruto personally intervened, engaging with the attackers before they were stopped.
While some see these incidents as public displays of enthusiasm, security experts warn that even seemingly innocuous tactics can inspire others and expose critical vulnerabilities.
Charles Kases Losur, who took over as head of the Presidential Guard Company in October 2025, is now going through a period of great pressure.
His administration follows previous breaches of the law, including the shoe being thrown at the president in Migori last year and the death of a GSU official at Government House.
Security analysts stress that even elite security forces face challenges balancing public access and risk mitigation.
Experts like Byron Odera, a former special forces officer, note that the president’s defenses operate on perception and reality: seemingly minor violations can signal weakness to hostile observers.
Past incidents, including one who sat unchallenged next to President Mwai Kibaki in Parliament (2004) and another that disrupted Republic Day celebrations in 2008, show the ongoing threats facing Kenya’s most protected leaders.
The review could trigger a second overhaul of the president’s security, with staff members held accountable for wrongdoing and given direct protection duties.
The findings underscore the delicate balance between access, public participation, and the importance of presidential security.
4. Nation Today
According to a Kiswahili newspaper, the agreement of the Union of Kenya Kwanza of 2022 has been judicially examined in the case of the removal from power of the former deputy president Rigathi Gachaguaand raised constitutional questions about power sharing and political appointments in the government of President William Ruto.
The co-petitioners in the case argue that the ruling coalition operated on the principle of “government by shares”, allocating public offices based on political loyalty rather than constitutional merit.
They have formalized the 2022 coalition agreement amid a legal challenge, claiming it shows that the administration’s selection was guided by agreed preferences among coalition partners, rather than constitutional principles.
The petitioners claim that this shareholding system directly affected Gachagua’s removal and undermined the legitimacy of his removal from power.
Evidence submitted to the Supreme Court includes Article 21 of the coalition agreement, titled “Sharing of National Government Responsibilities,” which specifies the distribution of key government positions among coalition leaders.
The signatories include President Ruto, Ford Kenya leader Moses Wetang’ula, and the ANC leader Stay Mudavadiwhose appointment as Speaker and Prime Minister of the Council of Ministers, respectively, was decided earlier in the agreement.
Petitioners argue that the implementation of this arrangement created ethnic and political calculations, making Gachagua’s removal from power part of a broader and systematic redistribution of government resources and offices.
In the affidavits, the petitioners insist that positions such as Cabinet Secretaries, Chief Secretaries, ambassadors, and heads of government agencies were clearly shared under the coalition formula.
Read ENGLISH VERSION
Do you have an exciting story that you would like us to publish? Please contact us via news@tuko.co.ke or WhatsApp: 0732482690.
Source: TUKO.co.ke
