Sifuna heads to court again over ouster as ODM secretary general

Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna, accompanied by Suba South MP Caroli Omondi, Wundanyi MP Danson Mwashako, Bomachoge Borabu MP Obadiah Barongo, Kaiti MP Joshua Kimilo, Kitutu Chache South MP Antoney Kibagendi, allied to the Linda Mwananchi movement, during a press conference regarding the ODM Central Management Committee’s decision to remove him from the position of Secretary-General and GenZ anniversary at Media Centre on June 23 /DOUGLAS OKIDDY

Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna has rejected the Orange Democratic Movement's decision to remove him as secretary general for a second time, describing the process as unconstitutional, unfair and contrary to the party's constitution.

In a statement issued on Tuesday, Sifuna's Linda Mwananchi team said the latest decision by the ODM National Executive Committee (NEC) mirrored an earlier attempt to remove him from office that was challenged in court in February.

The team argued that the latest move was procedurally flawed and vowed to seek legal redress.

"Late last evening, we were made aware of the decision by the ODM party purporting to remove Edwin Sifuna from the office. On the face of it, the decision bears similarities with the first one in February, unprocedural, unfair and contrary to the party's constitution," the statement said.

According to the statement, Sifuna consulted his legal team on Tuesday morning and resolved to challenge the decision in court.

"After consultation with our legal teams earlier this morning, it has been decided once again to test the propriety of the purported ouster in the courts. We are convinced it should suffer the same fate as the first one," the statement added.

Sifuna has maintained that the party leadership failed to follow the procedures outlined in the party constitution before attempting to remove him from office.

The ODM National Executive Committee announced Sifuna's removal on Monday following internal disciplinary proceedings, a decision that has deepened divisions within the party.

Rarieda Member of Parliament Otiende Amollo defended the decision by the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) National Executive Committee to remove Sifuna from his position as SG.

The legislator said that due process was followed and that the senator was allowed to respond to the allegations.

Amollo said the NEC was presented with a report from the party’s Internal Dispute Resolution Committee, which indicated that Sifuna had been accorded ample time to present his defence before the final decision was made.

“As the National Executive Committee, we were presented with a report of our internal disciplinary committee. In that report, they made it very clear that they had given ample opportunity to Senator Edwin Sifuna to respond,” Amollo said.

He said Sifuna did respond to the allegations through his legal representatives, which he said satisfied the procedural requirements of the party’s disciplinary process.

“He actually responded through his lawyers, and therefore, the question of procedural fairness has been taken care of. He was allowed to respond,” he said

The ODM NEC had earlier announced that it unanimously endorsed the committee’s findings, effectively ending Sifuna’s tenure as secretary general.

"The NEC received and considered the report of the party's Internal Dispute Resolution Committee and, after going through the findings under Article 74(2) of the party constitution, unanimously resolved to adopt the committee's recommendations and endorsed the removal from office of Senator Edwin Watenya Sifuna," ODM secretary general Catherine Omanyo.