Godfrey Osotsi has asserted that the decision to oust Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna from his role as the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) party secretary general originated during a meeting at President William Ruto’s residence in Kiligoris on December 27, 2025.
In an interview with political analyst Herman Manyora, Osotsi, who serves as the ODM Deputy Party Leader, disclosed that all members of the National Executive Committee (NEC) attended this meeting, with the notable exception of himself and Sifuna.
Osotsi revealed that Suna East MP Junet Mohammed confided in him that President Ruto explicitly expressed his desire for both Sifuna and Osotsi to be absent from this significant gathering, which has generated considerable discussion in political circles over recent months.
“There was a meeting held on December 27, 2025, at Kiligoris, the home of President William Ruto,” Osotsi stated.
He elaborated that the agenda of the meeting extended beyond Sifuna’s removal from the secretary general position, encompassing discussions on various issues, including the ongoing ODM “Linda Ground” meetings led by Oburu Odinga.
Osotsi claimed that the budgets and funding for these forums were established in the presence of the president.
“Even the ongoing meetings you see across the country, the Linda Ground initiative, their organization and budget were determined there. The decision to remove Sifuna was also made during this meeting,” Osotsi asserted.
“This gathering was intended to be the Central Committee of the ODM party, yet only two key individuals were absent: Secretary General Sifuna and myself.”
“Why were we absent? Because, according to Junet, the President reportedly indicated that he did not wish to see us.”
Osotsi also pointed out that the Central Management Committee (CMC) meeting in Kilifi, which decided that Oburu should spearhead the party’s pre-coalition negotiations with the United Democratic Alliance (UDA), was similarly determined at Ruto’s Kiligoris residence.
Continuing his account, Osotsi mentioned that Sifuna, Oburu, and Junet were scheduled to meet at the residence of ODM Treasurer Timothy Bosire to resolve issues between Sifuna and Junet. However, Sifuna waited the entire day for the two leaders, who ultimately failed to appear. Osotsi noted that the president later advised Oburu against further discussions with Sifuna.
Both Osotsi and Sifuna have expressed concerns regarding ODM’s trajectory in preparation for the 2027 general election. They have taken a firm stance, leading to a division within the party into two factions: the ODM “Linda Ground” forum, led by Oburu, and the “Linda Mwananchi” team, spearheaded by Sifuna, as each faction aims to outmaneuver the other.
The “Linda Ground” faction advocates for a political alliance with President Ruto and supports his bid for a second term, a stance that the “Linda Mwananchi” faction vehemently opposes. The latter group insists that the party should nominate its own presidential candidate in 2027, maintaining that this was the last known position of the late ODM leader Raila Odinga prior to his passing.
This situation unfolds as Sifuna faces removal from his position, although the Political Parties Disputes Tribunal (PPDT) has since reinstated him, with a resolution expected at a later date.
