Former ODM Secretary-General Ababu Namwamba (left) and the current holder of the office Edwin Sifuna.
Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna may have bought himself more time in the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) after a swift intervention by party powerbrokers but his tribulations appear to draw parallels to his predecessor Ababu Namwamba.
The former Budalang’i MP, a darling of the party after gaining popularity in 2007 by taking oath in the name of the late Raila Odinga, resigned as the party’s secretary-general in a huff in July 2016.
Interestingly, at the centre of the wrangles 10 years ago was Mr Sifuna who at the time was a little-known chairperson of the party’s disputes tribunal.
This is after the current Nairobi senator staged a coup in the party a month earlier and took over the secretary-general's position following a fallout between Mr Namwamba and the party’s powerbrokers.
“We are here to fill the vacancy. There is no longer a shortfall of personnel in the office of the SG and from today, I am the SG of ODM,” said Mr Sifuna in 2016.
Infighting within ODM
A decade later, Senator Sifuna is now on the receiving end with little-known Migori Senator Eddy Oketch at the centre of a clamour to have his counterpart de-whipped from all parliamentary positions and/or expelled from the party.
However, the push was shelved after the intervention of party leader Oburu Oginga to give a chance for dialogue but it is only a matter of time before he faces another attempt at his ouster.
Migori Senator Eddy Oketch.
Speaking during an interview at NTV on Wednesday, Senator Oketch gave the party leadership a week to find a solution to the Sifuna matter or else he would resurrect his petition.
Mr Oketch said his counterpart in the Senate should also have brought issues he has with ODM for handling by the party organs, which he is part of.
“But I read an excuse for mischief on the part of our party SG. He has found a moral standing in the party because he has a very critical position and therefore he can use it the way he wants for political or commercial survival,” said Mr Oketch.
“The complaints still stand; it is only that I respect the party organs. If this cannot be resolved in the next one week, we must give our members direction. That dialogue can also involve Sifuna talking to himself and resigning,” he added.
The simmering infighting within ODM appears to have echoes of wrangles witnessed in 2016 which led to the resignation of Mr Namwamba and vice chairperson Paul Otuoma.
Coming full circle, Sifuna and deputy party leader Godfrey Osotsi are currently at loggerheads with the other officials of the party over its direction.
Vihiga Senator Godfrey Osotsi.
Just as it was in 2016, a little-known party member has decided to take the bull by its horns and is leading a charge to have Mr Sifuna expelled from the party.
A decade ago, Mr Namwamba was accused of being a “Jubilee mole” and his successor is also facing accusations of close association with the party’s opponents, while arrogantly bragging that the party cannot dictate his political association.
Mr Sifuna is further accused of illegally usurping the powers of the party leader by purporting to negotiate for coalitions, frustrating the party’s efforts to meet its objectives as well as indiscipline and dishonesty by publicly denying the party’s involvement in the broad-based government arrangement, a position passed by the party organ.
This is in addition to reckless and deliberate sabotage by distributing the party’s confidential information and gross misconduct.
Out to sabotage the party
“It is clear that the member is on rampage and completely out to sabotage the party. Clearly, there is an urgent need for action to be taken to salvage the party from sinking in his ocean of ego and sea of arrogance and to immediately relieve him of his duties …,” said Mr Oketch.
“If not, then commence disciplinary proceedings for purposes of having him expelled from the party if found culpable.”
Former ODM Secretary-General Ababu Namwamba.
Unable to countenance Sifuna’s heat, Mr Namwamba resigned from the position in July 2016 accusing his party of giving him a raw deal by making him a ‘powerless’ SG.
He was facing sharp criticism from a section of ODM leaders who consistently accused him of failing to execute his mandate including skipping Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission protests seeking the disbandment of the electoral body.
After his exit, Mr Sifuna said his predecessor’s exit from ODM was long overdue terming him as a Jubilee ‘mole’ as well accusing him of failing to offer the necessary leadership to the opposition party.
“Anyone of us who feels they have had enough with ODM and they feel that they have nothing more to give to the party, we are wishing them well,” said Mr Sifuna.
“It is sad that we have come to this particular point that we have to part ways but we will trudge on because that is the nature of life. People come and go but the party, what it stands for and what it intends to achieve will remain forever.”
Political commentator Javas Bigambo has cautioned Senator Sifuna to look beyond the next elections and let political strategy and calculation be his best friends.
“Currently, he has removed any doubt that he is ready to make enemies within ODM as he is considering himself larger than life in the party,” said Mr Bigambo.
“But just like it was for Marcus Brutus who engineered the assassination of Julius Caesar, the very same sword that Sifuna wants to destroy ODM with, will be the same one that will puncture his political life,” he added.
