NAIROBI, Kenya — Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi has welcomed the removal of Edwin Sifuna as Secretary General of the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM), saying the decision was necessary to safeguard the party’s stability following the death of Raila Odinga.
Speaking in a candid reflection on the party’s internal dynamics, Mbadi said he was “very excited” by Sifuna’s dismissal, describing himself as “depressed” by what he termed actions that were damaging to the party.
“If you’re claiming to like Raila and you want to destroy his party months after his death, it is not fair to his legacy,” Mbadi said.
The CS also disclosed behind-the-scenes details about how Sifuna rose to the powerful Secretary General position, revealing that he was not the initial favourite for the role.
“I know how Sifuna got into that position. He was not the favourite. We sat with Baba and agreed. The favourite was Wafula Buke. The Western delegates did not want to hear of Sifuna at Orange House. Baba thought through and said we need someone who is very strong,” Mbadi stated.
CS John Mbadi: I am disappointed in Sifuna. I know how Sifuna got into that position. He was not the favourite. We sat with Baba and agreed. The favourite was Wafula Buke. The Western delegates did not want to hear of Sifuna at Orange House. Baba thought through and said we need
His remarks shed fresh light on past internal deliberations within ODM’s top leadership and underscore the weight Raila Odinga’s personal decisions carried in shaping party structures.
Mbadi, who previously served as ODM Chairman for 11 years, emphasized his long-standing relationship with the late party leader, saying he had been close to Raila since his student days in 1992.
“Of all the senior officials of ODM, no one stayed longer with Raila than I. From the time I was a student in 1992 to the time he departed, I was very close to him,” he said.
CS John Mbadi: I expected Sifuna to have become Secretary General who would be humble enough to accept that there are things that you can say in rallies and things that you can say in boardrooms. What I don’t agree with is showing disrespect to the party #JKLive
He added that while he did not always agree with Raila’s decisions — including being asked to step aside from a gubernatorial race — he respected the authority of party leadership.
“Leadership is not something that you force on someone,” Mbadi said, in reference to ongoing succession debates within ODM.
Addressing the broader state of the party after Raila’s death, Mbadi acknowledged that turbulence was inevitable.
“After the death of Raila, I don’t think anyone expected that it would be smooth sailing; there had to be turbulence. What ODM is going through is turbulent times. However, ODM remains the strongest party in this country; this is not a party that is dying anytime soon,” he said.
Mbadi also defended the current leadership under Oburu Odinga, dismissing concerns about age and longevity.
“I think ODM could not have gotten a better choice than Oburu Odinga. Oburu will never be Raila; he is not Raila,” he said, describing Oburu as a stabilizing and intelligent figure who frequently advised Raila.
“Oburu is a character that can steer the party,” Mbadi added.
CS John Mbadi: I think ODM could not have gotten a better choice than Oburu Odinga. Oburu will never be Raila; he is not Raila. Raila had built his stature over the years, from the time he was in prison, to the time he went into exile, has won elections many times, and denied the
