Edwin Watenya Sifuna

Proof of the party's split was that Edwin Sifuna who was ousted as ODM's Secretary-General in February after repeatedly criticising the Ruto government and coalition talks hosted a rival meeting at Ufungamano House – a short walk from State House – also on 26 March (AC Vol 67 No 4 The battle for ODM's soul)...

The decision by the ODM's oligarchs to sack Edwin Sifuna as Secretary-General on 11 February was a vote for perpetuating tribal and ‘kingpin' politics (AC Vol 67 No 4 The battle for ODM's soul)...

A Luhya Sifuna breaks with the ethnic-focused politics that have dominated Kenya's elections and coalition-building (AC Vol 66 No 7 Edwin Sifuna 42-year-old youth activist)...

The sacking of Edwin Sifuna as Secretary-General of the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) is a desperate attempt by party leader Oburu Odinga to contain divisions but risks breaking up the party and helping President William Ruto (AC Vol 67 No 2 NEWSMAKER: Oburu Odinga awkward caretaker)...

This helps explain the split within the Orange Democratic Movement after its then leader Raila Odinga – who died last October – formed an unofficial unity government with Ruto despite younger ODM leaders such as Secretary-General Edwin Sifuna seeing an opportunity to harness the Gen Z movement...

Though the ODM is still split on this question with a faction including Secretary-General Edwin Sifuna and Raila's daughter Winnie Odinga insisting that ODM should end its cooperation with Ruto and run its own presidential candidate in 2027 interim leader Oburu Odinga has been mandated to hold coalition talks with Ruto (AC Vol 67 No 2 NEWSMAKER: Oburu Odinga awkward caretaker)...

But the meeting in the coastal town of Kilifi was conspicuous by the absence of party Secretary-General Edwin Sifuna and Deputy Party Leader Godfrey Osotsi who have threatened to leave ODM should the party back Ruto...

But the momentum behind the anti-Ruto faction of ODM led by party Secretary General Edwin Sifuna and Babu Owino MP for Embakasi East was lost when ODM successfully got out its ethnic base vote in a series of by-elections in November...

ODM remains split between its establishment wing – led by Oburu Oginga Homa Bay Governor Gladys Wanga and five Cabinet Secretaries in Ruto's government – and Secretary-General Edwin Sifuna's faction which wants to leave the coalition...

Party Secretary-General Edwin Sifuna insists that ODM will run its own candidate against Ruto in 2027...

An ODM Central Committee meeting in July – called to address divisions between Mining and Cooperatives Cabinet Secretaries Hassan Joho and Wycliffe Oparanya both former deputy party leaders and ODM Secretary-General Edwin Sifuna – concluded that it would field candidates in the parliamentary gubernatorial and county elections but did not mention the presidency (AC Vol 66 No 16 Odinga's big tent politics are close to collapse)...