Catherine Omanyo: All Linda Mwananchi team members were invited to ODM SDC
By Mabonga Makhanu, March 30, 2026Busia Woman Representative and Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) Deputy Secretary General Catherine Omanyo has stated that all the Linda Mwananchi team members were invited to the party’s SDC that took place at Jamhuri Grounds on Friday, March 27, 2026.
While speaking during an interview on Monday, March 30, 2026, the outspoken politician said they ensured that all the rebel members of the party were formally invited to the high-level event, but only a few sent their apologies, confirming they would not attend.
“All of them were invited, and they have a message confirming the invitation. In fact, when they were being invited, I was there. A few sent their apologies, and that is why somebody needs to be keen.
“Why do some of them send their apologies and a few are insistent on not bordering? Somebody is bringing someone down knowingly or unknowingly,” she said.
Omanyo went on to question why some members of the Linda Mwananchi team sent their apologies, arguing that it shows they still have hope in the party and are only misleading Sifuna.
She added that the same members who sent their apologies were present during the ODM Parliamentary Group meeting held at the Parliament Buildings, presided over by party leader Oburu Odinga, despite being aligned with the Sifuna-led group, which is at loggerheads with the mainstream ODM.
During the same sitting, Omanyo also expressed her frustrations while serving as Sifuna’s deputy, saying she was often idle because, according to her, the embattled politician never gave her room to lead or delegate duties, as he was a ‘know-it-all’.
ODM SDC
This comes days after the Sifuna-led group skipped the ODM SDC and instead held a parallel meeting at Jamhuri Grounds, where some Linda Mwananchi members were stripped of their party roles.
This included the Vihiga senator, who was removed from his position as deputy party leader. He has since accepted the decision, stating that he will not challenge it in court, unlike Sifuna, but will instead serve as the Linda Mwananchi deputy party leader.
Sifuna’s removal
On his part, Sifuna had filed a case at the Political Parties Disputes Tribunal (PPDT) challenging his removal, but it was recently thrown out, with the tribunal stating it had no mandate to hear the case.
The matter was referred back to ODM’s Internal Dispute Resolution Mechanism (IDRM), as he had skipped this crucial step.
On whether the group will be expelled from the party, Catherine Omanyo maintained that disciplinary measures will be instituted against the Sifuna-led team. She noted that while the rebel members claim it is democratic to act as they are, democracy must also have boundaries, and the relevant party organs will take necessary action to restore order.