Youth in Siaya county have thrown their weight behind the push to expel Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) party Secretary General, Edwin Sifuna, from the party for allegedly plotting to destroy the party from within.
The youth, who were speaking in Bondo town, accused Sifuna of allegedly being used by former President Uhuru Kenyatta to rock ODM from within.
On February 11, 2026, ODM National Executive Council removed Sifuna from the Secretary General position citing indiscipline and breach of protocol replacing him with Busia
Women Representative Catherine Omanyo before Political Parties Dispute Tribunal issued temporary orders blocking the gazettement of Sifuna’s ouster with full hearing set for March.
Led by Nyanza region youth progressive movement Chairperson, Peter Odhiambo, the youths accused Sifuna of using the linda mwananchi rallies to degrade ODM party by inviting officials of competing political parties against the party’s tradition.
“The other day in Kitengela we saw officials from both Jubilee and DCP parties at ODM rally. Since when did ODM start inviting competitors to their rallies? We know it is a ploy by former president Uhuru to bring down the party after failing to offer anything tangible to ODM in the 2022 general elections,” Odhiambo asserted.
Odhiambo asked the party NEC to crack whip on perceived rebels whom he said were acting on selfish interests and have no agenda or direction for the party and country.
“I want to ask Sifuna and Babu Owino, what is your end game in all these? What do you intend to achieve?” Odhiambo posed.
Odhiambo added that the youth in the region strongly reject the misguided plans to take their people back to the streets through maandamanos- demonstrations.
“Youth in this region have lost lives through maandamanos since independence and we are not going back to the streets. We strongly say no to maandamanos,” Odhiambo noted.
The youth said they are strongly behind ODM party leader Oburu Oginga and chairperson Gladys Wanga to provide leadership in the party ahead of 2027 election adding that the leaders carry the legacy and understand the ideals of late former premier Raila Odinga.
They also said that they are backing the broad-based government arrangement which was signed between president William Ruto and late Raila based on the 10-point agenda.
The youth who were speaking ahead of the planned linda ground rally in Siaya scheduled for Saturday, criticized Governor James Orengo for trading the county’s development agenda for divisive and retrogressive politics.
“Siaya county is doing poorly in terms of development with poor infrastructure and lack of meaningful development yet Orengo, is the man in charge and at the forefront of maandamano and political rallies. It is embarrassing that our young people lack jobs in this county of heroes because of lack of leadership,” said Benjamin Otieno youth leader from North Ugenya ward.
Juliet Adhiambo Okelo dismissed claims by a section of linda wananchi brigade that youth in Siaya are demanding payments to attend Saturday’s rally saying the youth in the region do not need to be paid to attend rallies as alleged but they do so because of their love for the party.
Adhiambo made the remarks in responses to recent claims made by Suba South MP Omondi Caroli who is aligned to Sifuna that the pro-Oburu faction of ODM were facing rejection a head of the planned rally in Siaya because they have fallen short paying the youth as they did in Kilifi.
She termed Caroli’s remarks as misguided urging the youth to turn up in large numbers for the Saturday event.
By Brian Ondeng
