National Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi has called on the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) Central Management Committee to expel the party’s Secretary General, Edwin Sifuna, accusing him of disloyalty and undermining the party’s unity.
Speaking in Suba South constituency on Sunday, Mbadi, a former ODM chairman, said Sifuna and his allies had shifted their allegiance to the united opposition and were no longer committed to ODM’s agenda. He warned that their continued presence in the party risked deepening internal divisions.
“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,” Mbadi said. “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 urged the party’s Central Management Committee to act swiftly, accusing Sifuna of showing indiscipline toward party leader Oburu Oginga. He said decisive action was necessary to safeguard ODM’s integrity and ensure it continues to operate in line with its founding principles.
The Treasury CS also dismissed the Linda Wananchi campaign spearheaded by Sifuna, Embakasi East MP Babu Owino, and Siaya Governor James Orengo, describing it as baseless and contrary to ODM’s official position.
Mbadi reaffirmed his support for the ongoing partnership between ODM and the United Democratic Alliance (UDA), insisting that the alliance would continue despite opposition from within the party.
“There is no turning back on the UDA-ODM partnership,” he said. “Those who are uncomfortable with it are free to leave.”
The remarks come amid growing tension within ODM, with two factions emerging ahead of next year’s general election. One camp, led by Oburu Oginga, supports a pre-election pact with UDA, while the other, led by Sifuna and Orengo, insists that ODM should field its own presidential candidate.
Political observers warn that the escalating rift could lead to a major split in the party if the leadership fails to reconcile the opposing sides.
