Pro-Ruto Leader Heckled as Korogocho Chants #SisiNdioSifuna (WATCH)

The internal hemorrhage within the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) was laid bare on Wednesday afternoon, February 18, during what was supposed to be a standard developmental rally in Nairobi’s Korogocho slum. Instead of unity, the event served as a high-decibel stage for the party’s deepening civil war. As President William Ruto stood by, a prominent ODM leader—vocal in the push to oust Edwin Sifuna—was met with a wall of noise from a crowd that clearly hadn’t read the party’s new memo on “broad-based” cooperation.

The atmosphere turned toxic the moment the official took the microphone. Rather than applause, the air was filled with defiant chants of “#SisiNiDoSifuna” (We are for Sifuna). The heckling underscores a massive disconnect between the ODM high command at Chungwa House and the foot soldiers on the ground. For many in the Korogocho base, the attempt to replace the firebrand Nairobi Senator with Busia MP Catherine Omanyo isn’t just a leadership change—it’s a betrayal of the party’s traditional role as the defender of the “wananchi” against the state.

This public humiliation follows the dramatic events of February 12, when the ODM National Executive Committee (NEC) resolved to axe Sifuna for what they termed “indiscipline and defiance.” The move was immediately branded a “civilian coup” by Sifuna’s allies, including Siaya Governor James Orengo and Babu Owino. The drama moved from the boardroom to the courtroom, with the Political Parties Disputes Tribunal (PPDT) issuing a stay order last week that effectively froze Sifuna’s removal. Sifuna argues the ouster was unconstitutional, citing a lack of due process and a failure to notify him of any formal complaints before the “axe” fell.

The heckling in Korogocho is a symptom of a much larger identity crisis. On one side, pragmatists like John Mbadi and Oburu Oginga are urging the party to embrace the Ruto administration to secure a piece of the 2027-2032 power pie. On the other side, the “resistance” wing—now fueled by the Linda Wananchi movement—is gaining massive grassroots momentum by tapping into public anger over economic woes and corruption. As MP Caroli Omondi and others urge the “rebels” to ship out, the Korogocho incident suggests that if the rebels leave, they might just take the party’s heart and soul with them.