It was a reprieve for the ODM Secretary General Edwin Sifuna after the Political Parties Disputes Tribunal (PPDT) on February 12, 2026. halted his ouster.
This came barely a day after the party faction led by Oburu Odinga announced his removal as the SG.
The court issued interim orders staying the removal. this followed a swift move by Sifuna who filed an urgent application challenging the ODM National Executive Committee’s (NEC) resolution from the previous day, which had ousted him citing concerns over party discipline and cohesion.
Acting PPDT Chairperson Gad Gathu ruled that the implementation of the NEC’s February 11 decision be suspended, effectively blocking the appointment of Busia Woman Representative Catherine Omanyo as acting Secretary General.
“That pending the hearing and determination of this instant application, inter partes, this Honorable Tribunal hereby issues orders staying the implementation of the resolution made by the National Executive Committee of the Orange Democratic Movement Party on 11th February, 2026 to remove Edwin Sifuna as the secretary general of the party,” the order stated.
Additionally, the PPDT restrained ODM and the Registrar of Political Parties from gazetting the resolution, preventing its formalization pending mention on February 26, 2026, to confirm compliance and issue further directions.
The vocal senator, a critic of President William Ruto’s administration and a longtime ally of ODM leader Raila Odinga, had publicly rejected the ouster as illegal and unprocedural, vowing to fight it through legal channels.
This ruling provides temporary relief to Sifuna, maintaining the status quo amid escalating tensions within ODM.
The party, once a bastion of opposition, has faced internal divisions over its role in Ruto’s broad-based government, with some members accusing Sifuna of undermining unity.
Political analysts suggest this dispute could signal deeper fractures in ODM as it navigates alliances and leadership transitions ahead of future elections.
For now, Sifuna remains at the helm, but the full hearing will determine his fate.
