Sifuna Questions Oburu Oginga’s Legitimacy as ODM Leader, Ignores NDC: “You Elected Oburu?”

Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna challenged the legitimacy of Oburu Oginga as the leader of the Orange Democratic Movement
Sifuna claimed that he was blindsided by the elevation of Oburu following the death of Raila Odinga, questioning the process and timing of the leadership change
The ODM secretary general said that no members voted for Oburu, stressing that the party’s constitution requires an organized election process.

The leadership dispute within the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) appears to be far from over after the Nairobi senator Edwin Sifuna to openly challenge the legitimacy of Siaya senator Oburu Oginga as party leader.

The controversial ODM secretary general continued to ignore the ongoing National Delegates Conference (NDC) at the Republic Squares, calling it invalid.

Speaking on Friday, March 27, at the Ufungamo House in Nairobi, Sifuna questioned the process and timing that led to Oburu’s elevation following the death of a long-time party leader. Raila Odinga in October 2025.

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His remarks came shortly after his group managed to enter the hall for what they called the “NDC of the ODM People,” amid increased police presence at the venue.

Sifuna claimed that he was blindsided by the decision to appoint Oburu as acting party leader after the death of the former prime minister.

He disclosed that he had traveled to India with other leaders to facilitate the repatriation of Raila’s body from Mumbai to Nairobi on October 16, 2025, only to discover that the transition of leadership had already been carried out.

Sifuna suggested that some people within the party had started planning succession strategies even before Raila’s body arrived in the country.

He questioned the moral basis of the action and challenged those responsible for the decision to explain who approved the appointment of Oburu.

The Nairobi senator argued that ODM’s constitution and internal consensus require an organized election process, and not unilateral declarations.

He maintained that no delegates voted to approve Oburu, raising concerns about what he called a departure from the democratic principles that the party has long supported.

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“Something really broke my heart, when I was sent to support Baba Raila Odinga from India, they are staying in place, Baba has not even arrived in Kenya, they have already planned how to take his place. When I arrived in Kenya, I was told that Oburu is the party leader. Who said that? You chose Oburu?” Sifuna posed.

He further emphasized his point about the party’s local elections, which he said were held across the country according to the previous resolution.

The MP revealed that he personally participated in the process in Westlands, where he was elected as a member, along with other party officials who went through the same exercise.

According to him, the presence of duly elected delegates at the Assembly Hall underscored the legitimacy of their meeting, unlike the parallel meeting held along Ngong Road.

“And we as a party said people should conduct an election to examine the machine; I, Sifuna, went to Westlands where I am voting to be published as an ODM member. Our chairpersons here have conducted an election there on land,” the Nairobi senator said.

Sifuna questioned the credibility of the meeting, describing it as inconsistent with the party’s election plan.

He questioned why the party leaders who had approved the local elections seemed reluctant to get involved in the national election process.

The senator framed the issue as a measure of accountability, asking why a party that successfully organized elections at lower levels would avoid doing the same at higher levels.