ODM Secretary-General Edwin Sifuna has been removed from the Senate Energy Committee in a reshuffle that further highlights growing tensions within the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM).
The changes, announced on Wednesday, saw Homa Bay Senator Moses Kajwang’ take over Sifuna’s slot in the influential committee, which is chaired by Siaya Senator Oburu Oginga.
The move means the Nairobi Senator will no longer serve under Oburu, with whom he has had a long-running political fallout over the direction of the party and its cooperation agreement with President William Ruto’s UDA.
The reshuffle also saw Garissa Senator Abdul Haji replace nominated Senator Beatrice Ogolla in the Energy Committee, while Machakos Senator Agnes Kavindu joined the Senate Information, Communication and Technology Committee, also replacing Ogolla. Ogolla was subsequently moved to the Senate Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries Committee, replacing Kajwang’.
Unlike the other senators affected by the changes, Sifuna was not reassigned to another committee. He now remains a member of only two Senate committees: the County Public Accounts Committee chaired by Kajwang’ and the National Security, Intelligence and Foreign Relations Committee chaired by Isiolo Senator Fatuma Dullo.
Announcing the changes, Senate Majority Leader Aaron Cheruiyot said the reshuffle had been approved in line with Senate Standing Orders and recommendations from the Senate Business Committee.
“Notwithstanding the resolution of the Senate made on February 12, 2025, on the approval of senators to serve in various standing committees of the Senate and pursuant to Standing Orders 197, 199, 228 and the Fourth Schedule to the Standing Orders, the Senate has approved the following senators nominated by the Senate Business Committee to serve in various committees,” Cheruiyot stated.
Sifuna’s removal comes amid widening divisions within ODM. He is associated with the Linda Mwananchi faction, which has maintained a critical stance toward the broad-based arrangement between ODM and Kenya Kwanza, while Oburu is viewed as a leading figure in the rival Linda Ground camp.
The tensions were laid bare in March when Sifuna launched a scathing attack on sections of the party leadership, declaring:
“I refuse to be the SG of mediocrity. I refuse to be the SG of Oburu Oginga. These characters do not deserve me. Let them ask for a proper NDC where we shall present candidates for all the party positions.”
