POLITICS: Orengo, Osotsi & Babu Owino Dismiss Oburu’s Leadership, Sifuna Ouster
A new tempest is brewing within the ODM party when Embakasi East MP Babu Owino declared his disagreement with the dismissal of Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna as Secretary General, calling the action illegal and indicating a political attempt to contest it.
Owino criticized the decision, questioning whether party leaders followed the party constitution.
The MP was speaking to the press in Nairobi on Thursday, a day after the ODM National Executive Committee (NEC) decided to remove Sifuna from her administrative position.
“I want to state that the removal of Sifuna from office is not taken lightly by this team, and I want to condemn the leaders who made this decision,” Owino said.
MP Babu Owino: There’s no way that illegal office holders can remove a legal office holder (Sifuna) from office. The only mistake Sifuna or us did was to fight for the less privileged, for jobs for our youths, and against the high cost of living that is affecting Kenyans pic.twitter.com/SPA21Ozo2k
— Citizen TV Kenya (@citizentvkenya) February 12, 2026
Sifuna was not present for the NEC event, which was held in Mombasa.
The lawmaker questioned the legitimacy of the NEC meeting in Mombasa, calling it irregular and without due process.
“We know what Baba stood for. Baba stood for justice, Baba stood for fair hearing and trial,” he claimed.
“The meeting that took place in Mombasa was irregular. That meeting was set up to remove the current Secretary General of ODM, Edwin Sifuna, from office.”
Godfrey Osotsi, ODM Deputy Party Leader, criticized the National Executive Council’s (NEC) decision to remove Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna as the party’s Secretary General.
Addressing a press conference attended by numerous senior party officials, Osotsi urged ODM supporters to be calm and insisted that the NEC resolution was unconstitutional and would not stand.
“I want to tell party members to remain calm because Sifuna is not going anywhere,” he stated.
Senator Geoffrey Osotsi: I am surprised that Senator Oburu told us he needed to consult further, yet the consultation was not with other key stakeholders in the party. Instead, they proceeded that night to State House to consult William Ruto, and that is why two of us did not… pic.twitter.com/v3P1tiGIWd
— Citizen TV Kenya (@citizentvkenya) February 12, 2026
Osotsi restated his previous position, stating that he would leave the party if Sifuna’s removal is upheld.
“I had said it earlier: if Sifuna goes, I will also go,” he remarked.
Osotsi stated that the organization still recognises Sifuna as the genuine Secretary General of ODM, condemning the NEC’s action as unlawful and politically motivated.
He asserted that there is a hostile takeover of ODM, with some factions within and outside the party vying for control of the party’s leadership structures.
Senator Geoffrey Osotsi: There is a pair in this party, an axis of evil, who are working day and night to assist William Ruto in wrecking this party. We will not allow it, which is why we are saying that starting this weekend, we will be engaging our supporters so our people… pic.twitter.com/alxQfvos7k
— Citizen TV Kenya (@citizentvkenya) February 12, 2026
Siaya Governor James Orengo has stated that Nairobi Senator remains the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) Secretary General.
Speaking to the media on Thursday, Orengo emphasized that Sifuna remains the legally recognized bearer of the post.
“As I stand here, the Secretary General of ODM is Senator Edwin Sifuna,” he said.
“Shall I repeat for purposes of record and for all those who can here us from all corners of this great country, the SG of Raila’s party, ODM, is one Edwin Sifuna.”
Orengo has backed Sifuna, citing him as a devoted and experienced party official who continues to properly represent ODM.
Orengo stated that Sifuna has been with the party for about a decade and has supported ODM leader Raila Odinga at some of the party’s most important occasions.
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“Senator Sifuna has served the party for nearly 10 years, and he has been with Raila Odinga at very critical and crucial moments, including running the affairs of the party between two elections, 2017 and 2022,” he added.
Governor Orengo: The SG of ODM is Edwin Sifuna, so don’t be deluded. The problem in ODM is President Ruto, and we are asking him to let it go. He has not taken the party hostage, but rather is merely in possession of it. He is convening meetings while excluding Sifuna & Osotsi pic.twitter.com/dOtUcyTx7W
— Citizen TV Kenya (@citizentvkenya) February 12, 2026
Orengo emphasized that at no point in Raila’s political career, notably during Sifuna’s stint as Secretary General, has Raila openly criticized or condemned Sifuna for his performance in office.
“During the entire life of Raila Odinga and during the period in which Edwin Sifuna was the SG, there is no single moment that Raila Odinga rebuked or criticised in public in the discharge of his functions as SG,” Orengo said.
During the presser in Nairobi, Sifuna was accompanied by a section of leaders, including Siaya Governor James Orengo, Vihiga Senator Godfrey Osotsi, Embakasi East’s Babu Owino and Winnie Odinga.
POLITICS: Orengo, Osotsi & Babu Owino Dismiss Oburu’s Leadership, Sifuna Ouster
