The late Raila Odinga’s Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) faces escalating internal tensions following sharp criticism from National Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi.
As reported by NTV Kenya through their official X account, Mbadi urged the party’s Central Management Committee to expel Secretary General Edwin Sifuna, along with Embakasi East MP Babu Owino and Deputy Party Leader Godfrey Osotsi.
He accused them of being “conflicted” and “selling the agenda of someone else,” implying divided loyalties amid ODM’s participation in the broad-based government arrangement.
Mbadi argued that Sifuna’s actions show indiscipline toward party leadership, including Oburu Odinga, and warned that retaining such figures risks further fracturing the party. He emphasized the need for swift disciplinary action to preserve unity and ODM’s bargaining power ahead of future elections.
The remarks sparked backlash as Alinur Mohamed highlighted the perceived irony, questioning whether Mbadi himself is “selling the agenda of someone else” by serving in President William Ruto’s cabinet while remaining in ODM.
This points to broader divisions within the party, where pro-broad-based government factions clash with those opposing deeper alignment with the ruling Kenya Kwanza coalition.
Recent events, including rival rallies by the Sifuna-led “Linda Mwananchi” team featuring Orengo, Babu Owino, and Osotsi, underscore the growing ideological split.
As ODM grapples with these contradictions, the push for expulsions could either consolidate loyalists or accelerate fragmentation in one of Kenya’s major opposition-turned-coalition parties.
Author: Bashirjuma
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