ODM Announces Special Delegates Convention Amid Deepening Internal Rift

 The Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) has formally announced a Special Delegates Convention scheduled for March 27 in Nairobi as the party grapples with a growing internal power struggle

In a notice dated March 5, ODM Deputy Secretary General Catherine Omanyo said the convention will begin at 9:00 a.m. and will bring together key party officials and delegates from across the party’s structures

The meeting will include members of the National Executive Committee (NEC), the parliamentary group, governors, county assembly leaders, and representatives from the party’s youth, women, and disability leagues

According to the notice, the convention will deliberate on several key matters affecting the party’s leadership and governance

These include the ratification of a resolution by the National Governing Council (NGC) regarding party leadership, consideration of a NEC resolution on Article 87 of the party constitution, and an address by party leader Oburu Oginga

The gathering is expected to play a crucial role in determining the party’s future direction at a time when internal divisions have become increasingly visible

The convention comes weeks after the ODM National Executive Committee resolved to remove Edwin Sifuna, the Nairobi Senator, from the influential position of Secretary General during a meeting held in Mombasa on February 11

Party officials cited concerns about discipline within the leadership and appointed Omanyo to serve in an acting capacity until a substantive replacement is elected

However, Sifuna’s removal sparked a political storm within the party, with some leaders backing the decision while others rejected it and publicly supported the senator

ODM leader Oburu Oginga later clarified that Sifuna had only been removed from the administrative role but remained a member of the party, describing the move as a disciplinary action rather than an expulsion

The dispute has since been taken to the Political Parties Disputes Tribunal (PPDT), which issued orders blocking Sifuna’s removal as Secretary General pending the determination of the case. The tribunal directed parties involved to present their submissions on March 12, 2026

The dispute has further exposed divisions within the party, which have now crystallized into two rival factions

One faction, known as “Linda Ground,” is aligned with Oburu Oginga and is viewed as supportive of a broader political arrangement that could see ODM cooperate with President William Ruto ahead of the 2027 General Election

The opposing faction, “Linda Mwananchi,” is linked to Sifuna and other ODM leaders, including Embakasi East MP Babu Owino and Siaya Governor James Orengo. The group opposes closer ties with the ruling coalition and insists that the party should remain firmly in the opposition

The rivalry has been reflected in separate rallies, public statements, and disagreements over the party’s political strategy

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The planned convention also follows pressure from some party members demanding a broader consultation on leadership and governance matters

Among them is Winnie Odinga, daughter of the late longtime ODM leader Raila Odinga. She recently criticized the party leadership for allegedly sidelining members and making key decisions without adequate consultation

Speaking in a televised interview in January, Winnie argued that the party had failed to properly communicate with its members following her father’s death and during the subsequent leadership transition

She further insisted that key decisions made by party organs such as the NEC and the Central Committee must be ratified by a delegates convention to be considered legitimate

With internal tensions continuing to rise, the upcoming convention is expected to be a defining moment for ODM as it seeks to resolve leadership disputes and chart its political direction ahead of the 2027 elections