Oburu misses Coast rallies as finger-pointing, chaos grip ODM
Politics
By
Standard Team
| Feb 13, 2026
ODM deputy party Leader Abdulswamad Sharif Nassir, Chairperson Gladys Wanga and other leaders during the ODM Linda ground rally in Lamu on February 12, 2026. [Emmanuel Wandon, Standard]
ODM leader Oburu Oginga failed to attend party rallies in Lamu and Tana River on Thursday, events seen as crucial following Wednesday’s controversial National Executive Committee (NEC) decision to oust Secretary General Edwin Sifuna.
No reason was given for his absence, but his lieutenants continued to launch scathing attacks against retired President Uhuru Kenyatta, linking him to the party infighting.
ODM Chair Gladys Wanga and National Assembly Minority Leader Junet Mohamed claimed Uhuru fuelled the conflict because he opposed President William Ruto’s re-election.
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Fresh details emerged about the NEC meeting in Mombasa that culminated in Sifuna’s ouster. Ruth Odinga, Otiende Amolo, and Simba Arati reportedly clashed with Oburu over his push to remove Sifuna. Sources said NEC members accused Oburu of undermining Raila Odinga’s political legacy while acting as Ruto’s agent.
Oburu, however, had the backing of Wanga, Mombasa Governor Abdulswamad Nassir, Junet, Catherine Omanyo, and other NEC members. The faction’s decision to remove Sifuna prevailed, taking advantage of the absence of Sifuna and Deputy Party Leader Godfrey Ostosi.
Coast ODM delegates said they were surprised by the NEC’s move. ODM delegate John Gichana urged the party to protect itself from leaders seeking to destroy Raila’s legacy for personal gain.
“ODM can only be saved by the National Delegate Conference. Oburu is out to kill the party. I will not remain silent because of the Sh5,000 we were given,” Gichana said.
In Lamu, Wanga and Junet alleged that Sifuna and his team were being used by Uhuru to destabilise ODM and later join a secret party aligned with the United Opposition.
“Our enemy is Uhuru Kenyatta because he opposed ODM backing Ruto. He is engineering divisions to destroy the party,” Wanga said.
She denied claims that she, Oburu, and Junet had been bribed to support Ruto, noting that ODM had joined him under the late Raila Odinga.
Junet said the issue was not Ruto or the broad-based government, but Uhuru manipulating the party. “The problem in ODM has been Uhuru Muigai Kenyatta. We want him to run Jubilee and his projects. He should give us peace,” he added.
Junet and Deputy Party Leader Abdulswamad Nassir challenged Sifuna’s team to contest the National Delegates Convention (NDC) on March 27, in Nairobi if they wanted party leadership. Nassir stressed that no party grows without discipline, warning against acts that could divide ODM.
He claimed Sifuna’s faction had formed a secret party aligned with Rigathi Gachagua, intending to destroy ODM. “We acted before they could damage the party,” Nassir said, supporting calls for an NDC to authorise Oburu to negotiate coalition arrangements with Ruto’s UDA ahead of the 2027 elections. He cited Raila’s previous participation in CORD, NASA, and Azimio coalitions as precedent.
ODM tours in Lamu and Tana River saw Wanga, Junet, and Nassir campaigning at Mkunguni grounds in Lamu town, Witu, and Garsen, with the Coast tour concluding at Tononoka grounds, Mombasa, on Sunday, where top leaders are expected.
In Tana River, ODM branch officials criticised Sifuna’s removal, terming it illegal and against members’ wishes. Branch Chairman Oscar Kaseme said Sifuna could only be removed by the NDC.
“It’s only two months since Raila Odinga died, and we haven’t held an NDC. How can a few decide to remove him without consultation?” Kaseme said.
He accused ODM leadership of creating confusion for personal gain and questioned UDA’s current interest in ODM. “I wonder why UDA is eyeing ODM now that Baba has died. These are cowards exploiting a powerless party leader to divide us,” Kaseme said.
Report by Patrick Beja, Willis Oketch and Hassan Barisa