Tribunal to Deliver Make-or-Break Judgement on Sifuna’s Ouster
All eyes are on the Political Parties Disputes Tribunal (PPDT) this afternoon as it prepares to deliver a landmark judgement that could reshape the leadership of the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM). The ruling follows a bitter fallout between the party’s National Executive Committee (NEC) and its embattled Secretary-General, Edwin Sifuna, who was purportedly removed from office during a high-profile meeting in Mombasa on February 11, 2026.
The core of the dispute rests on whether the February 11 Mombasa resolution was a lawful exercise of party power or a “procedurally defective” act. Sifuna, through his legal team, has argued that his removal violated the very constitution of the ODM party. Specifically, the Nairobi Senator claims he was never served with a “Notice to Show Cause,” nor was he given an opportunity to defend himself against allegations of “indiscipline”—a mandatory requirement under Article 74 of the ODM Constitution.
“The resolution was made without being an agenda item, without notifying me of any complaint, and without giving me a fair hearing,” Sifuna stated in his supporting affidavit. The defense has termed the move a “political witch-hunt” fueled by internal friction regarding the party’s direction following the passing of longtime leader Raila Odinga.
On the other side of the aisle, the ODM legal team, led by proponents of the Oburu Odinga-led faction, has challenged the tribunal’s jurisdiction. The party maintains that Sifuna rushed to the courtroom prematurely, failing to exhaust the Internal Dispute Resolution Mechanisms (IDRM) as required by the Political Parties Act. ODM insists that the NEC followed its internal protocols and that the process was still in its “formative stage” when Sifuna obtained conservatory orders to freeze the move.
The Gad Gathu-led bench must now decide if the party overstepped its bounds. If the tribunal quashes the resolution, Sifuna will be firmly reinstated, dealing a significant blow to the NEC members who sought to replace him with Deputy SG Catherine Omanyo. However, if the tribunal rules in favor of the party, it could signal a major restructuring within ODM as it prepares for its National Delegates Convention (NDC) scheduled for late March.
As the 2:30 PM deadline approaches, both factions are on edge. A victory for Sifuna would cement his role as a key power player in the opposition, while a loss could mark the end of a decade-long era at the helm of Kenya’s most iconic political party.
