Busia Woman Representative and Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) Acting Secretary General Catherine Omanyo has stated that she used to be idle while serving under Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna.

While speaking during an interview on a local TV station on Monday, March 30, 2026, the outspoken ODM Deputy Secretary General stated that Sifuna never delegated anything to her and that he was a know-it-all kind of person.

She continued, stating that as a result of this, she decided to stay in the shadow of her then-boss just so as not to hurt his ego.

“I used to feel somehow idle while serving as Sifuna’s deputy; he used not to delegate anything to me. He was a know-it-all person.”

Sifuna’s removal

This comes days after Sifuna, who had been ousted from his position as secretary general and replaced with Catherine Omanyo, had his case quashed by the Political Parties Disputes Tribunal (PPDT), which referred the matter back to the party to exhaust the internal dispute resolution mechanism, saying that they did not have the mandate to hear the case.

Sifuna, on his side, has maintained a hardline stance, saying that he will not serve as secretary general under what he termed ‘mediocre leadership’ like that of the current ODM party leader Oburu Odinga.

He stated that he could not serve as secretary general under someone like Raila Odinga for nine years and later work under Oburu Odinga, whom he views as more junior to his former boss. He told Oburu to look for his own secretary general, stating that he will not serve in that role.

Vihiga Senator Godfrey Osotsi, who was removed from his position as Deputy Party Leader, on his part stated that he will not go to court or challenge his removal, saying that he will be the deputy party leader.

ODM delegates kicked out Osotsi as deputy party leader of the Linda Mwananchi team.

Paul Mwangi’s view

Raila’s lawyer and legal advisor Paul Mwangi also weighed in on the ongoing standoff in the ODM party, stating that Edwin Sifuna was part of Raila’s exit strategy. According to the seasoned lawyer, Raila would always have two sides: the militant side and the diplomatic side.

He explained that the diplomatic side is what he showed the state, while the militant side is the rebellious side, which Sifuna has long harboured.

He added that if things or Raila’s relationship with William Ruto did not go well, he could have involved Sifuna’s militant or rebellious side as his way out of the talks he had begun with William Ruto.