The Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) is grappling with deepening internal divisions as Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi publicly rebuked party Secretary General Edwin Sifuna for what he termed “divisive remarks” that undermine party leadership.
In a pointed interview with Ramogi TV’s political desk, Mbadi, who previously served as ODM chairman, challenged Sifuna’s recent public statements and emphasized the need to respect the party’s established hierarchy.
“Between the Party Leader and the Secretary General, whose decision is final?” Mbadi asked rhetorically, reinforcing Raila Odinga’s supreme authority within the party structure.
The confrontation stems from Sifuna’s candid admissions about ODM’s current state of confusion and internal contradictions. Speaking on Citizen TV’s The Explainer show Tuesday night, the Nairobi Senator acknowledged that the party no longer presents a unified voice on critical national issues.
“Right now, there is a lot of confusion. I told my party leader that there was a time when it was easy to be the SG of ODM… You could wake me up at night and I would answer any question because we never compromised on values,” Sifuna admitted during the television appearance.
The Secretary General expressed particular difficulty in articulating ODM’s stance on fundamental constitutional matters, including devolution and freedoms guaranteed under Article 37, attributing this to “disjointed messaging and mixed political allegiances within the party.”
Mbadi defended the controversial decision by several ODM leaders to accept Cabinet positions in President William Ruto’s Kenya Kwanza administration, revealing that these appointments were made with Raila Odinga’s “full knowledge and approval” following extensive consultations with the President.
“I’m glad he clarified those are his personal opinions,” Mbadi said, dismissing Sifuna’s criticisms as individual views rather than official party positions.
The Treasury CS indicated that the current ODM-Kenya Kwanza collaboration would continue until 2027, after which Odinga would determine the party’s future political direction.
Sifuna’s public soul-searching included a rare apology to ODM supporters, acknowledging the leadership’s failure to maintain party unity and ideological clarity.
“I want to apologise to members of ODM for all the confusion we as a leadership have caused, because it is very difficult right now to discern the position of ODM on major issues,” he said.
The internal strife highlights broader challenges facing ODM as it navigates the complexities of having members serve in a government led by their former political rival while attempting to maintain opposition credibility.
This public disagreement between two senior ODM officials underscores the party’s struggle to balance political pragmatism with ideological consistency, leaving supporters and members uncertain about the movement’s future direction.
The dispute also raises questions about party discipline and the extent to which individual leaders can express dissenting views without facing internal censure, particularly when those views concern the party’s fundamental political strategy and alliances.
