Linda Mwananchi faction hits back as Wanga show cause letter to Sifuna sparks odm war

A show cause letter issued by Gladys Wanga to embattled ODM Secretary General Edwin Sifuna has ignited a fierce political and legal battle within the party, with the Linda Mwananchi faction vowing to fight on.

The letter, which lists six charges, accuses Sifuna of gross misconduct and repeatedly contravening party resolutions. Among the allegations are running a parallel political outfit under the Linda Mwananchi banner, skipping key party meetings, and undermining ODM’s collective authority through public statements.

“Despite participating in Party meetings and publicly conveying Party resolutions, you have subsequently issued contradictory statements in various forums, thereby creating confusion and eroding institutional coherence,” the letter read in part.

Sifuna is also accused of failing to attend critical National Executive Committee (NEC) and Central Committee meetings held on February 11 and 12.

But the Nairobi Senator has pushed back, setting the stage for a protracted legal fight. Through Behan and Okero Advocates, he has formally protested his removal and sought arbitration under Article 88 of the ODM constitution.

“By a resolution of the party's National Executive Committee on February 11, the party purported, unlawfully and irregularly, to remove our client as secretary general of the Orange Democratic Movement party. Our client is aggrieved by that decision and hereby declares a dispute under Article 88 of the ODM Constitution,” the lawyers said.

Sifuna maintains that due process was not followed, arguing that his removal violates both the party constitution and laws governing political parties.

However, ODM has rejected the arbitration request, insisting the matter must first go through its Internal Dispute Resolution Mechanism (IDRM), in line with a directive from the Political Parties Dispute Tribunal (PPDT).

“Accordingly, we are unable to accede to your client's request for arbitration under article 88 of the party’s constitution which in any event would only be applicable after an IDRM process under article 74(2) and (3) of the party constitution,” ODM through Wanga said.

Linda Mwananchi faction digs in

Sources indicate Sifuna’s allies within the Linda Mwananchi faction are preparing for a drawn-out battle, leveraging legal processes that could stretch for years from IDRM to arbitration, the PPDT and possibly the courts.

At the same time, insiders say the faction is exploring a fallback plan, including scouting for a new political vehicle should they lose control of ODM.

Siaya Governor James Orengo has insisted the faction will not quit ODM, but will instead fight from within to reclaim the soul of the party even as he disclosed that Sifuna had the party’s documents and instruments.

.“It is Sifuna who has the party certificate because he is the custodian of the documents and instruments. If there is another person who has the documents, then they are fake. That is why we shall not leave ODM for the sellouts,” he said.

Former Makadara MP Reuben Ndolo echoed the sentiment, daring rival factions to produce legitimate party documents.

Ndolo also dismissed claims that Sifuna had rejected the Secretary General position altogether.

“He did not say he doesn’t want to be ODM’s Secretary General. He said he doesn’t want to be Oburu’s SG,” he said.

Parallel strategy taking shape

During the Linda Mwananchi People’s Delegates Conference last month, Sifuna stated that their team was ready for a political showdown, saying his team had lined up candidates for party positions ahead of anticipated internal elections.

“Sifuna was not born to be the party’s Secretary General, but if they want to remove me, let them follow the procedure and call for elections where we shall present our line-up,” he said.

Political observers now say Sifuna’s camp is pursuing a dual strategy — fighting for control of ODM while quietly preparing an exit plan.

Some of the parties linked to his allies include the Peoples’ Renaissance Movement (PRM) and the United National Congress (UNC), associated with Saboti MP Caleb Amisi and former Kitutu Masaba MP Timothy Bosire.

Analysts warn of possible split

Sources and Analysts argue that an ODM split is increasingly likely, with the real question being which faction will command influence and resources.

Political analyst Mark Bichachi says management of the political outfits will be the major nightmare for ODM .

“The splitting of the party is not an issue. Having the machinery to run your own party is a question. Do the young turks have the resources necessary, the political weight, the strength to start new political parties? Does Babu Owino have the resources necessary, the networks necessary to start his own political party? Does Sifuna have that capacity”? he posed.

Bichachi also added “There is one factor that we need to be very much aware of that is the factor of President Ruto, the guy is very witty very smart with politics and will he be able to do with Nyanza and the ODM electorate the same way he did with Mt Kenya region dividing the region into two factions.”

Another analyst, Simeon Ogonda, questioned why Sifuna’s camp was not following the political path of Raila Odinga, who historically formed new outfits when faced with internal disputes.

“I doubt they are Raila’s students, if he was a true student of Raila he could not have gone to court to fight for his position. The moment they let him go, he would have formed a new outfit and challenge the ODM as Raila did whenever confronted by a similar situation,” Ogonda said.

 He drew comparisons with Raila’s situation when he disagreed with his father Oginga Odinga and later with Kijana Wamalwa over the Ford Kenya’s leadership, he resigned and formed his National Development Party and later when he differed with the second President Daniel Moi when he ditched KANU where he served as party’s SG to join National Rainbow Coalition (NARC) in 2002.

 “You can be popular today and still be unpopular tomorrow. But if you have grounded on principles of a truly democratic society, you must know politics is a matter of choice. It is the people's choice to elect him next time in whichever party he comes with. But if he's clinging to ODM, then he's telling us he has no value outside ODM,” Ogonda added.