Philip Etale, the Communications Director of the Orange Democratic Movement, strongly supports the political party’s disciplinary processes, emphasizing their legality and adherence to internal guidelines. He pointed out that the removal of UDA’s Secretary General mirrors similar actions across various parties.
In a recent interview, Etale clarified that the situation involving Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna was not a snap decision but rather the result of a thorough internal process. He explained that the issue has been ongoing since January 2026, involving multiple legal and internal discussions.
“The decision traces back to January when Senator Sifuna sought court intervention to halt any proceedings regarding his ouster,” he mentioned.
Etale highlighted the role of the Political Parties Disputes Tribunal (PPDT), which instructed that the situation be resolved internally before any further adjudication.
“The PPDT ruled on March 26 that this matter should be resolved within the party first,” he added.
He defended the party’s actions by likening political parties to members’ clubs with specific rules and expectations. “Each party has its unique way of operating and must act against members who don’t align with its ideology,” he stated.
Citing UDA’s previous actions, he reinforced that all parties have their methods and obligations under the law to maintain ideological consistency.
The ODM officially removed Senator Edwin Sifuna from his Secretary-General position on June 22, 2026, following a rigorous disciplinary process that validated the internal dispute resolution committee’s recommendations. ODM’s interim Secretary General, Catherine Omanyo, confirmed that this decision was made in accordance with the party’s constitution.
