Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna has officially been removed from his position as the Senate Deputy Minority Whip, a change confirmed by Senate Speaker Amason Kingi.
Senator Eddy Oketch from Migori will take over this role immediately. Kingi communicated this decision to the House after receiving the minutes and the signed petition for Sifuna’s removal.
These changes occur amidst shifting political dynamics within the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) leadership. Sifuna, who also held the title of ODM Secretary-General, has recently become one of the party’s most vocal critics regarding the growing relationship between ODM and the Kenya Kwanza administration.
This reshuffle is poised to ignite fresh discussions within ODM and the broader opposition, where Sifuna has consistently championed issues of governance and accountability.
The Senate Deputy Minority Whip plays a crucial role in assisting the Minority Whip by mobilizing senators for essential House activities, ensuring attendance during significant votes, and coordinating the legislative agenda of the minority coalition.
This development follows a recent formal acknowledgment by the Office of the Registrar of Political Parties (ORPP) regarding Sifuna’s removal as ODM Secretary-General. The ORPP determined that the removal process adhered to the Political Parties Act and the party’s constitution.
In a letter from the Registrar of Political Parties and Chief Executive Officer J.C. Lorionokou, the office stated that the decision was based on a thorough review of the documents submitted by ODM and the absence of a response from Sifuna on the matter.
The Registrar noted that the office had examined the correspondence related to the powers of the party’s National Executive Committee (NEC) in establishing committees and setting their terms of reference before reaching this conclusion.
“Upon reviewing the submitted documents and the lack of response from Hon. Edwin Watenya Sifuna, we affirm that the removal of the party Secretary-General aligns with the Political Parties Act, Cap. 7D, and the ODM party constitution,” the letter indicated.
In response, Sifuna’s legal team has contested the Registrar’s decision. The dispute over the Secretary-General’s position remains under ongoing legal review, with Sifuna asserting that the process leading to his removal did not follow legal or internal party protocols.
