NAIROBI, Kenya- Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna is emerging as one of the most consequential political figures within the fractured Orange Democratic Movement, his popularity rising sharply even as he stares at removal from the powerful position of Secretary General.
The latest show of strength came in Kisumu, where thousands turned up for the Linda Mwananchi rally, an event that has sent shockwaves across Kenya’s political landscape and exposed deep cracks within ODM.
Sifuna, alongside Siaya Governor James Orengo and Embakasi East MP Babu Owino, has become the face of a defiant faction determined to chart a different political path ahead of 2027.
The rally, analysts say, was not just a gathering—it was a statement.
Political observers had already flagged the Kisumu and Vihiga rallies as a decisive “show of strength” for the faction, aimed at testing grassroots support and reshaping ODM’s direction.
And the message was unmistakable.
Despite internal resistance and alleged attempts to block the event, crowds turned up in large numbers, many described as organic and unmobilised, signalling growing public resonance with Sifuna’s hardline stance against President William Ruto’s re-election bid.
At the heart of Sifuna’s rising profile is a clear ideological split within ODM.
On one side is his Linda Mwananchi faction, openly opposing any political accommodation with Ruto and vowing to make him a one-term president.
On the other hand is a rival camp associated with party leader Oburu Oginga, which has been perceived as more open to cooperation with the current administration, deepening tensions within the party.
The fallout has been swift and brutal.
ODM’s National Executive Committee moved to remove Sifuna as Secretary General, citing indiscipline and internal disagreements, in what many interpret as an attempt to rein in a growing rebellion within the party ranks.
But Sifuna has refused to go quietly.
He has dismissed the move as illegal and politically motivated, accusing sections of the leadership of acting under external influence and vowing to “fight to the end.”
Ironically, the attempt to push him out may be fueling his momentum.
Within ODM strongholds and beyond, Sifuna is increasingly being framed as a symbol of resistance, particularly among younger voters disillusioned with traditional political bargains.
His messaging, often sharp and unapologetic, appears to be striking a chord in a country still grappling with economic pressure and political realignment.
The Kisumu rally may now mark a turning point.
What was once an internal party dispute is fast evolving into a broader political movement, with Sifuna at its center, embattled, yet emboldened.
And as ODM’s internal war intensifies, one reality is becoming harder to ignore- removing Sifuna from office may not remove him from relevance.
