According to insiders, a group of senior ODM members met before the joint parliamentary group meeting with President William Ruto and discussed the idea of dropping Sifuna from his powerful position.
The officials reportedly argued that the Nairobi Senator has been too outspoken against the ongoing political cooperation between Raila Odinga and Ruto.
The meeting is said to have considered several trusted allies of Raila who would be more open to supporting the partnership.
Party figures believe such a shift would make ODM appear more united and avoid internal fights that could weaken it ahead of the 2027 elections.
However, the plan faced strong resistance within the party. Strategists warned that Sifuna’s removal could spark serious divisions, as he enjoys strong support from many grassroots members and young voters.
They cautioned that pushing him out would give the impression that ODM is punishing loyal members who refuse to follow political deals blindly.
During the heated session, Raila reportedly listened to both sides of the argument. Those in favor of replacing Sifuna insisted that a “friendlier” face was needed to ensure the new alliance with Ruto is not sabotaged from within.
On the other hand, opponents of the move reminded Raila that ODM cannot afford to lose its youthful face and risk defections.
In the end, Raila is said to have shelved the plan at the last minute, choosing to keep Sifuna in his role for the sake of party unity.
A senior party official confirmed that while the idea was seriously discussed, the risks of removing Sifuna outweighed the benefits.
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