HOMA BAY, Kenya — National Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi has called for the expulsion of Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) Secretary General Edwin Sifuna, escalating internal tensions within the party over its political direction ahead of the 2027 General Election.
Speaking on Sunday in Suba South, Homa Bay County, Mbadi accused the Nairobi Senator of leading a rebel faction within ODM and promoting the agenda of rival political forces. He said the party should not retain members who openly oppose its policies.
“Someone like Sifuna will not remain in ODM because already he is conflicted. He is now selling the agenda of someone else. Why are you pretending? You cannot keep him at the party,” Mbadi said.
The Treasury CS said he had asked ODM chairperson Oburu Oginga to consider convening a meeting of the party’s Central Management Committee (CMC) to deliberate on Sifuna’s fate.
Mbadi argued that party discipline must be enforced, insisting that those unwilling to align with ODM’s position should be allowed to leave.
“If someone does not want to agree with ODM policies, that person should be left to go so that we know how many people he is leaving with,” he added.
His remarks came on the same day Sifuna led a faction identifying itself as “Linda Wananchi” on a political tour of Busia County.
The group rejected any pre-election pact between ODM and President William Ruto’s United Democratic Alliance (UDA), insisting the party must field its own presidential candidate in 2027.
The emerging rift has raised fears of a major split within ODM, with two camps now openly articulating divergent strategies. One faction, aligned with Oburu Oginga, supports a pre-election arrangement with UDA. The opposing group, led by Sifuna and backed by Siaya Governor James Orengo, maintains that ODM should contest the presidency independently.
Despite the divisions, Mbadi dismissed claims that the party was at risk of collapse.
“ODM is a solid party. There is no way it will fail. It will remain solid the way Raila left it,” he said, adding that the leadership would rally supporters to remain loyal under Oginga’s stewardship.
Kisumu Woman Representative Ruth Odinga, who has previously been associated with the Sifuna camp, appeared to react to Mbadi’s remarks with a brief Facebook post reading: “Who told you?”
The phrase is closely associated with former ODM leader Raila Odinga, who previously stated that his cooperation with President Ruto would run until 2027 and that ODM had not formally resolved its electoral position.
The Sifuna faction has vowed to resist any attempt to expel its members. Embakasi East MP Babu Owino challenged the party leadership to proceed with expulsions, saying they were prepared to face by-elections.
“We will stand up to you. Even if today you decide to expel us, we are ready to go back to the people through a by-election,” Babu said.
Governor Orengo echoed the defiance, warning against what he termed an attempt to “auction” the party.
“Nobody will force us to enter into a government we do not agree with. ODM must form the next government and must have a presidential candidate,” Orengo said.
