By Alex Sifuna
Nairobi Senator and Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) Secretary General Edwin Sifuna has explained why he did not attend the party’s high-level National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting held in Mombasa, citing safety concerns and alleged threats linked to internal party tensions.
Speaking during a local radio interview on Tuesday, Sifuna said his absence from the Mombasa meeting was not accidental or politically motivated disengagement, but a decision influenced by what he described as credible intelligence suggesting possible violence target at him.
Sifuna claimed that groups had been mobilised with the intention of disrupting the meeting and possibly attacking him had he attended.
He alleged that ODM meetings in parts of the Coast region, including Kilifi and Mombasa, had recently been infiltrated by organised groups that are used to intimidate or silence dissenting voices within the party.
“I could not attend that meeting. There are many planned party meetings, and they want you to attend so that you are attacked. They organise gangs to attack you,” Sifuna said during the interview.
He further claimed that similar incidents had been witnessed in previous ODM engagements in the Coast region, where individuals believed to be aligned to certain political factions allegedly caused chaos.
“There were also gangs in Kilifi during the first meeting. The same was also seen in Mombasa; there were gangs that were deployed to cause chaos,” he added.
His remarks have added another layer of tension to the already strained internal politics within ODM, a party that has in recent months experienced growing divisions over leadership direction and political alignments.
Sifuna, who also serves as ODM Secretary General, has in recent months positioned himself among leaders questioning the party’s internal decisions, particularly around coalition politics and alignment ahead of the 2027 general election.
He has been associated with the “Linda Mwananchi” faction, which includes leaders such as Siaya Governor James Orengo and Embakasi East MP Babu Owino. The group has been vocal in criticising the government of President William Ruto while also pushing for what they term ideological clarity within ODM.
According to Sifuna, some of the internal disagreements stem from differing opinions on whether ODM should cooperate with the current administration or remain in opposition.
He claimed that this divergence of views has created hostility within the party, with some members allegedly targeting those who oppose engagement with President Ruto’s camp.
“The only problem we have is that some members are supporting President Ruto for the 2027 elections. That is where the division comes from,” he said.
Sifuna insisted that his position has always been guided by ODM’s founding principles and that any attempts to sideline him are politically motivated.
The ODM Secretary General also suggested that his absence from key meetings is partly due to exclusion from critical decision-making processes within the party.
He argued that he is sometimes not informed or involved in planning major party activities, making it difficult for him to fully participate in some engagements.
“I was not involved, I was not invited, and I was not informed. I saw them on the media like everyone else,” he said in a previous interview, echoing sentiments he has raised in earlier disagreements within the party.
Sifuna has also previously questioned the management of party funds and mobilisation activities, alleging that some ODM events are financed through unclear or parallel structures outside the official party framework.
These claims have, however, been dismissed by other party officials who maintain that ODM remains structured and guided by its constitution.
While ODM leadership has not issued a direct response to Sifuna’s latest claims regarding security threats, senior party officials have in the past urged unity and discipline among members.
The party has been undergoing internal restructuring following recent leadership changes, including shifts in top positions and ongoing debates over its future political strategy.
Some officials have previously defended the conduct of party meetings, insisting that all members are invited and free to attend unless otherwise engaged or unavailable.
There have also been indications that ODM is attempting to streamline its internal communication channels to reduce misunderstandings and improve coordination ahead of upcoming political activities.
Sifuna’s remarks come at a time when ODM is navigating one of its most complex internal transitions in recent years.
The party, long considered one of Kenya’s most influential political formations, is facing competing pressures from within and outside its ranks.
Observers note that internal disagreements, particularly involving senior figures like Sifuna, could shape the party’s direction ahead of the 2027 elections.
Political analysts argue that Sifuna’s growing public statements reflect deeper struggles within ODM regarding leadership succession, ideological direction, and relations with the current government.
His claims of threats and organised disruptions, if substantiated, could also raise questions about security and conduct within political party meetings in Kenya.
As ODM continues to manage internal disagreements, Sifuna’s absence from the Mombasa meeting and his explanations highlight ongoing tensions within the party’s top leadership.
While he maintains that his decision was based on safety concerns and principles, critics within and outside the party are likely to interpret the incident as part of broader political realignments taking shape within ODM.
For now, the party remains under pressure to address internal divisions and restore unity as it prepares for future political contests.
