Kasmuel Reprimands Sifuna for Defying ODM Stand

Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) Secretary-General Edwin Sifuna is facing growing pressure from within the party after senior leaders accused him of stepping outside his institutional mandate, further exposing widening cracks in the opposition outfit.

ODM Youth League leader Kasmuel McOure on Wednesday publicly criticised Sifuna, warning that the office of secretary-general is bound by party discipline and must reflect official positions rather than individual views.

In a strongly worded statement shared on social media, McOure said the secretary-general’s role is administrative and communicative, not ideological or personal.

“The office of the ODM Party’s Secretary-General is not a platform for personal opinion. It is an institutional office that demands discipline, restraint and loyalty to the party constitution,” McOure stated.

He added that while Sifuna, who also serves as Nairobi Senator, has a constitutional right to pursue personal political ambitions, those interests should not conflict with his responsibilities as a senior party official. 

“As long as he occupies that office, he must speak for the party leader and articulate agreed party positions, not his personal views,” McOure said.

McOure further reminded ODM members that Sifuna was appointed by the party leadership and that the party retains the authority to review or revoke such appointments if officials are deemed to have breached internal protocols.

“ODM is bigger than any individual. No office bearer is indispensable,” he added, in remarks that have fuelled speculation about possible disciplinary action.

The youth leader’s comments reflect a broader unease within ODM, where differing views over the party’s future direction have increasingly spilled into the public domain.

The latest fallout follows Sifuna’s remarks on December 30, when he publicly apologised to former President Uhuru Kenyatta over insults directed at him by a section of ODM leaders.

Speaking during the burial of former Lugari MP Cyrus Jirongo, Sifuna praised Uhuru’s support during Raila Odinga’s last presidential bid and extended an apology on behalf of party members who had criticised the former head of state.

While the gesture was welcomed by some, it angered other ODM leaders who argued that the apology was neither sanctioned nor reflective of the party’s official position.

ODM Chairperson Gladys Wanga and Minority Leader Junet Mohamed are among leaders who have questioned Sifuna’s engagement with Uhuru, accusing him of consulting external actors on sensitive party matters.

The disagreement has brought into sharper focus the existence of rival camps within ODM. One faction is pushing for closer cooperation with President William Ruto’s United Democratic Alliance (UDA) ahead of the 2027 General Election, arguing that political pragmatism is necessary in the post-Raila era.

The opposing camp, associated with Sifuna, insists that ODM must retain its independence and protect the ideological legacy of its founding leader, Raila Odinga, who died in October 2025.

Sifuna has repeatedly maintained that any major decisions, including possible cooperation with UDA or changes in party leadership, must be sanctioned by the National Delegates Council (NDC).

He has dismissed claims that he is working with Uhuru to destabilise ODM, insisting that his position is anchored on internal democracy and collective decision-making.

ODM’s internal tensions have intensified since Raila’s death, with the party struggling to define its leadership structure and political direction ahead of 2027.

Several senior figures, including Saboti MP Caleb Amisi, Embakasi East MP Babu Owino and Siaya Governor James Orengo, have openly aligned themselves with Sifuna’s stance against premature political alliances.