By Tony Wafula, Bungoma
Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) supporters in Bungoma County have called on party leader Raila Odinga to address the rumors regarding the potential ouster of the party’s Secretary General Edwin Sifuna.
The claims have been reportedly supported by Makadara MP, George Aladwa.
The controversy surrounding Sifuna’s leadership role within the party has raised concerns among the party’s grassroots supporters, who are now demanding clarity and a clear direction from Raila.
The call for action comes after Raila’s recent loss in the race for the African Union Chairmanship (AUC), following which the ODM leader hinted at supporting President William Ruto’s re-election bid in 2027.
Odinga, however, assured ODM supporters that he would address the party directly next week, leading to further speculation among party members.
Speaking to the press in Bungoma on Friday, Eric Njalale, a staunch ODM supporter, expressed deep concern over what he termed as underground disagreements within the party that could potentially harm its unity and future growth.
According to Njalale, rumors of efforts to remove Sifuna from his position have been circulating and he urged Raila to respond to the issue.
“We have heard rumors about the move to remove our Secretary General and we want a direct response from Raila on what the way forward is. Sifuna has been instrumental in growing the party, particularly here in Bungoma. We cannot afford to lose him,” Njalale said.
He further emphasized that Sifuna has played a key role in expanding ODM’s presence in areas that are traditionally seen as strongholds for rival political figures, such as Bungoma, which is predominantly considered a stronghold for Moses Wetang’ula’s party, Ford Kenya.
“Junior party members like Aladwa should not interfere with our own Mr Sifuna. He has worked hard to grow ODM in this region. It is clear that Bungoma has historically been Wetang’ula’s stronghold, yet Sifuna has worked tirelessly to expand ODM’s influence here,” Njalale added.
Additionally, Njalale highlighted the past political conflicts involving George Aladwa, claiming that Aladwa had previously interfered with Westlands MP Tim Wanyonyi’s bid for the Nairobi gubernatorial position.
This, he said, was not the first time Aladwa’s actions had led to internal disputes within the party.
“This is not the first time we are raising complaints about Aladwa. He was also involved in opposing MP Wanyonyi when he wanted to run for Nairobi governor,” Njalale said.
Asserting that the ongoing wrangles within the party need to come to an end, Njalale urged ODM members to focus on strengthening the party’s roots and expanding its reach.
He called on Raila to provide clarity on the situation and offer a way forward that will help bring unity to the party.
Felix Ngala, a member of the Bungoma County ODM Youth League, also joined the call for party unity, stressing that ODM must remain focused on its broader goals of party growth and political impact in the region.
The call for clarity from Raila follows growing concerns among ODM supporters that infighting and internal disagreements may hinder the party’s future success.
