ADVERTISEMENT In a dramatic twist shaking Kenya’s opposition politics, Ida Odinga—widely revered as Mama Ida —has thrown her weight behind embattled Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) Secretary General Edwin Sifuna, declaring unequivocally: “Sifuna is here to stay.”
Speaking with unmistakable authority amid escalating party turmoil, Mama Ida dismissed swirling reports of Sifuna’s removal as baseless and counterproductive. “Edwin Sifuna is the SG of the party. He is the son of Raila. He is not going anywhere,” she asserted. Drawing a powerful family analogy, she added: “If your father has died, should the children be chased away from the house? If you have a disagreement in the house, people should sit down and resolve it.”
Her staunch backing arrives at a critical juncture for ODM, still reeling from the October 2025 death of its iconic founder, Raila Odinga. Just days ago, the party’s National Executive Committee (NEC) voted to sack Sifuna—citing alleged indiscipline—and install Busia Woman Representative Catherine Omanyo in his place. The decision ignited immediate backlash: protests erupted in Mombasa, loyalists warned of a mass exodus, and accusations flew of a power grab fracturing the Odinga dynasty.
But Sifuna fired back hard. Addressing the media flanked by heavyweights including Siaya Governor James Orengo, EALA MP Winnie Odinga, and Embakasi East MP Babu Owino, he branded the ouster “illegal, unconstitutional,” and a violation of natural justice. “Raila did not raise cowards,” he declared, vowing a fierce court battle.
That fight gained instant traction: Kenya’s Political Parties Disputes Tribunal (PPDT) swiftly issued a conservatory order, suspending the removal and barring any gazettement until Sifuna’s petition is heard. For now, the Nairobi Senator remains ODM’s Secretary General in the eyes of the law.
Mama Ida’s intervention underscores deep rifts within ODM—between hardline opposition purists loyal to Sifuna’s combative style and those pushing for pragmatic engagement with the ruling UDA government. As one of the most respected voices in the Raila legacy, her call for dialogue over division could prove pivotal in averting a full-blown splinter.
With court proceedings looming and tempers flaring, one thing is clear: Edwin Sifuna’s political future—and ODM’s unity—hangs in the balance. But as Mama Ida made crystal clear, he’s not packing his bags anytime soon.
