ODM plot to remove Sifuna as deputy minority whip

Nairobi Senator Edwin

Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna has already been removed from the Senate Energy Committee, a decision attributed to ODM’s internal parliamentary nomination processes. [File, Standard]

Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna is facing renewed uncertainty over his position in ODM’s parliamentary leadership, with sources indicating that he could be removed as Deputy Minority Whip when the Senate resumes from the short recess on July 15.

Sources in ODM told The Saturday Standard that Sifuna will have to leave the position even as he continues to serve as the party Secretary General. Past attempts by the National Executive Committtee and National Delegates Congress to remove him from that position also failed.

The new development comes just a day after the Political Parties Disputes Tribunal ruled in his favour in a dispute over his removal as ODM Secretary General, finding that the process did not meet fair hearing requirements.

Despite the ruling, party insiders say discussions on the structure of ODM’s parliamentary leadership continue, with no indication that the tribunal outcome has altered ongoing internal considerations.

Sifuna has already been removed from the Senate Energy Committee, a decision attributed to ODM’s internal parliamentary nomination processes. The party has not publicly provided detailed reasons for the change.

Under parliamentary procedure, committee and leadership positions are determined through party nominations and House processes, with strict timelines for submission of changes to the Speaker.

Ordinarily, removal from a parliamentary committee can occur through a member’s voluntary resignation, a formal petition by another member, or through a political party’s decision. In Sifuna’s case, there was no indication that he had sought to relinquish his seat nor was there any publicly known petition seeking his removal. This leaves the party position as the most plausible explanation behind his ouster from the influential Energy Committee.

During the sitting at which the Energy Committee changes were read, the Leader of Majority reportedly indicated that further adjustments affecting Majority-side senators were being considered. However, by the time formal submissions were to be made to the Speaker, the procedural deadline had already lapsed.

‘’These have come from the minority side, we have similar ones on the majority side which we have just submitted but we missed the deadline for the Senate Business Committee (SBC),’’ said Cheruiyot

This means any additional changes would likely have to be formally presented when the House resumes from recess, with the possibility that the Leader of Majority, Aaron Cheruiyot could make a fresh statement on the floor of the House at that time.

Sources further indicate that the anticipated changes may extend beyond ODM senators, with some Kenya Kwanza-affiliated senators and others linked to opposition-leaning or informal political alignments, including the Linda Mwananchi factioh of the orange party grouping, also said to be under review for possible adjustments in committee and leadership positions.

The process began in the National Assembly, where legislators perceived to have taken positions at odds with their respective party leaderships were removed from influential committees in a move that supporters described as enforcement of party discipline and critics viewed as punishment for dissent.

‘’Being in a committee is not an entitlement, it's a preserve of a party that sponsors you,’’ said minority leader Junet Mohammed when renegade MPs were punished and axed from key committees.

 ‘’To people who are misbehaving, we have given you a warning. As minority leader on my side anyone who will not adhere to the party line will end up relinquishing your committee seat, ‘’ added Junet, who doubles up as ODM's Director of Campaigns

 The party has in recent months emphasised discipline and cohesion within its parliamentary ranks as it seeks to manage internal differences over its political direction and strategy.

However, divergent positions among some legislators across party lines have continued to surface, reflecting broader tensions within both coalition and opposition blocs.

While the tribunal ruling addressed Sifuna’s removal from a party administrative position, it does not directly affect parliamentary leadership roles, which fall under separate party and parliamentary mechanisms.