Acting ODM SG Catherine Omanyo declares bid to hold office permanently
By Cynthia Lodite, February 21, 2026The Orange Democratic Movement acting Secretary General, Catherine Omanyo, has announced that she will fully defend the SG position entrusted to her at the party delegates’ conference slated for next month.
Speaking at a rally on Friday, February 21, 2026, Omanyo dismissed claims that she is fighting Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna after an attempt to oust him as the Secretary General of ODM.
“I am now the acting Secretary General of ODM, wamegeuza kusema Catherine amegeuka kufight Sifuna how?,” Omanyo said.
On her part, Omanyo said that she is fit to serve as the ODM Secretary General, vowing to defend her seat at the upcoming delegates conference.
“Watu waseme wasiseme mimi sibanduki waambie mimi nimekalia na nimeona kiti imenitosha... In fact, when I look at myself i should be the Secretary General ODM,” Omanyo said.
Oburu backs up Omanyo
Meanwhile, the ODM party leader Oburu Oginga has publicly defended the party’s decision to appoint Catherine Omanyo as acting secretary general, insisting that embattled Secretary General Edwin Sifuna must face the consequences of indiscipline.
Speaking during a Sunday service at Shalom Miracle Church in Makupa, Mombasa County, on February 15, 2026, Oburu emphasised that adherence to party rules is non-negotiable.
He noted that ODM has not chased Sifuna out of the party but went ahead to mock the Nairobi Senator’s decision to challenge his ouster, noting that he will remain a court SG as Omanyo takes over from him.
“If you don’t follow the rules of the party, you keep out of the party, but if you follow the rules, you will be part and parcel of us. That is why we have our SG Catherine Omanyo, and the other SG, party ilisema akae nje kidogo kwasababu ya kukosa nidhamu, lakini hatujafukuza yeye kwa chama. Yule ni SG wa court, na huyu ndio SG wa chama,” Oburu said.
He stressed that discipline is essential for the party’s unity and warned that no one, regardless of their position, is bigger than ODM.
Oburu noted that he is also ready to be ousted should he go against the party rules.
“And we are not going to go back because there must be an example of discipline; someone must feel a little pain for being indisciplined so that the party can continue to be united. Hata mimi nikikosa nidhamu nitolewe, because there is no one who is bigger than the party,” he said.